Control over what you do and how you do it increases happiness, engagement and fulfilment. It’s an essential factor in creating work you love.
Some companies have embraced a new approach: Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE).
What matters most is your results. How you get them is up to you. So is when you start work, when you leave, when you take vacations.
But gaining control is complicated.
The first control trap
People want to design their lifestyle and not live by other people’s rules. Enthusiasm and passion are not in short supply and there’s not much value either.
You need more.
To gain control you need the career capital to offer in exchange. First, get good at something rare and valued by others.
The second control trap
Once you have the career capital to get more control, people will try to prevent you from gaining it.
Because control benefits you, not them.
They’d rather convince you to seek promotions and more money instead of control.
Try asking for a four-day work week and see how successful you are.
It’s all about timing
You need to choose the right moment to make your next career move. Get it right and you’ll pivot to something great. Get it wrong, and your premature bid for autonomy could lead to disaster.
- First control trap. You want more control, but don’t have the career capital. You should ignore your instincts and shelve the idea (for now).
- Second control trap. You want more control, but your company entices you with a promotion or more money. You should ignore the offers and pursue more control anyway.
Avoiding control traps
The law of financial viability says to do what people are willing to pay you for. While money may not be everything, when it comes to your career, money is an effective judge of value.
The definition of “pay” can include:
- Approved for a loan.
- Outside investment.
- Full time employment.
- Freelance work.
If you’re thinking about making a change, do some homework and see if people are willing to pay you for it.
Otherwise move on.
How important is autonomy to you in your career? Share your thoughts in the comments
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