One thing I love about Gusto is saying things that get the youngsters to blink. Yesterday it was:
“If you’re doing what you’re told, you’re paid too much.”
Autonomy ignites creative workers, according to Daniel Pink’s Drive & GeePaw Hill’s RAMPS. Gusto EPDD (Engineering, Product, Design, & Data) supplies autonomy to how work gets done. We’re still learning how to supply it to what work gets done. That’s what I was getting at.
I’m seeing these 2 dimensions as orthogonal now.
- Here’s exactly how to work versus do whatever to solve the problem
- Here’s the problem to solve versus go figure out what of the many problems you’re going to address next
In instinctive consultant style as a matrix.
- Constrained task/constrained implementation — public company CEO. You have to do all that CEO stuff & if you get too creative you’re likely to get sued.
- Constrained task/autonomous implementation — private company CEO. You still have to do all that CEO stuff but are less constrained in how you accomplish it (cf Ricardo Semler).
(I’m interested to note that the move towards super-voting shares gives CEOs more autonomy, with mixed results.)
- Autonomous task/constrained implementation — “Our company is an XP shop but you need to figure out what you’re going to work on.”
- Autonomous task/autonomous implementation — my personal favorite. As a Fellow, I’m improving the flow of value through EPDD, here, there, but not everywhere (too big). How I do it is up to me — coaching, pairing, classes, consulting, writing.
Autonomy in both dimensions is easier for the privileged. Failure comes with harsher penalties for the disadvantaged and success with greater rewards for the privileged. In addition, the privileged have had a lifetime to practice autonomy. Be aware of this background when encouraging/exercising greater autonomy on either dimension.
Back to my opening quote. As a shareholder, I want the whole of those bright, skilled, energetic brains engaged. I want them picking what to do and how to do it, both. Their judgement of priorities is more thoroughly informed than mine. I want them pedaling with both feet, sculling with both oars.
