Dive Brief:
- Employees who have more autonomy report lower burnout and greater engagement, according to a new white paper from the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies.
- The research found that when managers consistently emphasize trust, clarity and shared decision-making, it can improve overall feelings of psychological safety.
- Meanwhile, workers who experience chronic workload imbalance, a lack of voice in the workplace and limited control in their roles are more likely to exhibit signs of exhaustion, per the research.
Dive Insight:
The research explored how employee burnout, worker engagement and overall long-term organizational sustainability could be influenced by factors including autonomy, self-determination theory and leadership practices.
“Burnout is not simply an individual resilience issue — it is often a structural and leadership challenge," Julie Overbey, an author of the paper and a member of the university’s Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Research, said in a statement. “When organizations design roles and policies that support autonomy, they strengthen both employee well-being and long-term performance."
A workplace that fosters autonomy and support creates an environment where workers can thrive rather than languish, a February study from the Center for Professional Responsibility in Business and Society at the University of Illinois’ Gies College of Business found.
Perceived autonomy, meaning an employee's sense of control, agency and meaningful participation, can directly affect motivation, resilience and job satisfaction, the University of Phoenix research showed.
“Leaders who understand the psychological foundations of motivation are better equipped to build cultures where employees feel valued, capable and engaged,” Pamela Ann Gordon, an author of the research and a member of the university's Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Research, said in a statement. “Autonomy is not the absence of structure; it is the presence of meaningful participation.”
A separate December white paper, also from the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies, found that 21% of workers said they believed they were losing control over their professional future. Autonomy is the key to worker resilience, per the paper.
