Tarzan on the Need for Autonomy

July 5, 2016 - PRLog -- Whenever I watch a Tarzan movie or read one of the many books, there is always a part of me that wonders why the antagonist doesn't just leave Tarzan alone. They kidnap Jane, harass his familial gorillas, and generally taunt Tarzan until he has no choice but to avenge their wrongdoings. In the end, they flee the jungle in terror and Tarzan returns to his relatively autonomous existence.

Tarzan's desire for autonomy is not unlike those of us and our employees. We have an innate need to experience the freedom to instigateour own actions. This includes feelings of self-initiation, self-inspiration, and self-regulation.

Contrary to what many believe, offering autonomy is not based upon job responsibilities or the employee's stature within the hierarchy, but rather the ways in which the manager relates to employees and carries out supervisory functions. Managers who practice autonomy support sustain a culture of employee empowerment, high involvement, and creative engagement. They do this by acknowledging the employees' perspective, removing obstacles associated with encumbering work rules, offering opportunities for choice, and encouraging self-initiation.

   Extensive research has found that when managers embrace an autonomy-supportive climate, individuals on their team have more self-motivation, greater job satisfaction, and enhanced job performance. Additionally, one study found that...

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