The Price of Being in Charge (of ourselves)

Increasing automation and digitization will drastically alter the nature of our jobs.

Because algorithms can’t replace the qualities that make us uniquely human — empathy, creativity, reflectiveness — the future of work will inevitably center around these qualities.

In order to develop such capacities, companies will need to drop traditional hierarchical structures and command-and-control mindsets, making room for personal initiative.

Consequently, workplace environments will allow for increased freedom, which translates into more ‘breathing space’ but also more individual accountability.

While this sounds ideal, the truth is that it can be overwhelming.

Freedom is actually a huge responsibility, requiring radical honesty about our current capacities and courage to face our inner world.

When responsibilities expand without clear outcomes or guidelines, the risk of causing damage to the company increases. Do we actually possess the necessary skill set, emotional intelligence, and confidence to be truly autonomous?

When our minds are free from external pressure, the internal noise comes bubbling up. We may not have the fear of a micromanaging supervisor, but unregulated emotions, insecurities, and anxieties speak louder than any person ever could. Negative thinking patterns can have a paralyzing effect, preventing us from taking effective action or harnessing the focus required to get the job done.

If we aren’t performing the way we — or others — would like, we can no longer offload accountability, or deceive ourselves into thinking that if only we had the space, we could do it. It means we need to have the confidence to own and address our inadequacies, our failures, and our shortcomings.

When we are the ones calling the shots, it’s our responsibility when things go wrong. Are we capable of making sound decisions? Are we able to see projects through from start to completion? Can we successfully navigate and overcome the challenges and roadblocks that arise along the way?

We complain of the burden of a rigid 9–5 schedule, but do we have the discipline to design and follow our own structure?

Can we translate this freedom into better output? Or will we merely stay at home and stare out the window dreaming of better things?

To truly know whether we are ready to manage free of the restraints that are currently binding us, we have to understand ourselves.

How cognizant are we of the fluctuations in our moods and emotions, and the reasons for them? Are we conscious and reflective, or are we jumping from distraction to distraction, stimulation to stimulation, input to input? Are we aware and accepting of our limitations or do we inflate or degrade ourselves to disguise or exaggerate them?

On the face of it, freedom feels like a positive in any context. The tendency is to imagine that if only we had more freedom, less rigidity, many of our problems would disappear.

However, autonomy comes with the responsibility of self-inquiry, of taking an honest look at ourselves and understanding all the ways in which we hamper our own freedom. If we’re not ready for that, then it may be that the ‘old-school’ job — offering clear tasks, structure, and direction — provides us with exactly what we need in this moment, even if that means postponing our confrontation with abstraction and complexity.

The more consciously we move through life, the more we get to know about ourselves, and the more we understand the origins of our thoughts and actions. Once we are aware of what causes negative emotions and adverse behaviors, we can begin to test our own assumptions and experiment with new and different tactics to bring about desired effects.

In this manner, we start to understand what works, what doesn’t, and what we truly want and, most importantly, we develop humility and empathy as our awareness of our shortcomings increases. The more we engage in this self-corrective process, the more capable we become of standing on our own two feet.

It is only when we understand our own complexity that we are able to take responsibility, and ultimately, experience true freedom.

I lead the Energy Project Europe and help companies and individuals implement/adjust to new ways of working. Increase in pressure is forcing us to rethink the status quo, and transforming ourselves along with company cultures is imperative for “success” in the future. If you want to get in touch or get an update whenever a new blog post or case study is posted, please e-mail me omri@theenergyproject.nl