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If You Want More Autonomy Try Organizations Out Through Temporary Placements

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If you have worked in an organization for years, then you’re accustomed to changes in leadership affecting the employee culture over time. As a veteran employee, each year you will tend to form different bonds with co-workers, but they will eventually leave the organization if they do not feel satisfied with the top leadership. You could be a long-term employee who values relationships with co-workers more than you care about executive leadership. Because the relationships in the workplace help you feel connected to your job, you’re willing to overlook (or perhaps not dwell on) the current problems with organizational leadership. This mindset may suit people who prefer to stay with one employer and feel stability in their career. It may not be right for other people who need a high level of engagement with their work and want to feel supported by their leadership. We recommend that you determine whether your level of autonomy (or influence over your work activities) fits your current needs. You could be staying in a job that no longer challenges you. If you feel stagnant in your current position, even though you clearly understand how decisions are made and have some influence over the priorities and direction of the company, you could be a candidate for a new job. You might want to try a temporary placement on for size before you determine if the organization is a good fit.

Where Can You Find Autonomy?

The concept of autonomy is actually important to all types of employees, not just ones who need to work for people they believe to be capable leaders. This concerns how much independence each employee can exercise in their choice of work assignments and the approaches they may choose to complete them. For example, some people prefer to be part of a high-functioning work team, which gets to choose its own projects, rotate leadership roles, and divide up the tasks that its members perform. Other individuals want to work independently and only report to their boss or colleagues at a few points during the work week or month to discuss their progress. When people can be part of a high-functioning team, they may get more social status. However, others just need that individual level of engagement with their work. They will want to keep working for an organization that makes their desired level of engagement possible and does not have too many working conditions that hamper their success or make their jobs difficult. People can experience high levels of stress, especially if they are feeling that their boss does not trust them to do their jobs. Imagine the scenario of a manager whose team receives a new project, but the manager directs the team in so many ways that they feel smothered. While they may have initially felt excited about the project, the micromanagement perception takes the fun out of it for many on the team.

Do You Feel That You Have Enough Autonomy in Your Career?

There comes a point in every person’s career when they must decide if their organization meets their professional needs. If your needs aren’t being met, then you might decide to change organizations, especially when the benefits of employment do not exceed the costs of staying in the position. When you perceive a lack of leadership or feel that the current leadership conflicts with your needs and wants, don’t hesitate to explore new employment options. As an agency specializing in temporary placements, we can help job candidates find positions with more autonomy while their employers augment their workforce, especially for temporary projects.

For details on finding temporary placements that provide adequate autonomy and variety in work tasks, please contact us.