Being autonomous does not mean "going it alone" or "doing what you want", but acting with discernment, reliability and responsibility.
Why is this a key skill?
Autonomy allows you to :
- Improving efficiency in a world where managers can't control everything
- Streamlining decision-making processes
- Strengthening trust and delegation
- Facilitating hybrid or remote working
- Encouraging learning, initiative-taking and proactivity
Example
An employee identifies an unnecessary recurring task in their reporting, talks to their manager about it and suggests an automated solution. They act on their own within their area of responsibility: they are autonomous.
Autonomy is not about doing things without others, it's about knowing how to do things with yourself.
- Adapted from Albert Jacquard
Associated skills
- Management of time
- Decision-making
- Sense of responsibility
- Initiative
- Personal organisation
How can we develop it?
- Clarify your scope of action (roles, limits, objectives)
- Prioritising and planning
- Make simple decisions without waiting for orders
- Asking for feedback to adjust without dependency
- Daring to say no or to raise the alarm when autonomy is curtailed
Self-assessment
✅ I organise myself to achieve my goals.
✅ I make coherent decisions without validating every detail.
✅ I know when to ask for help... or not.
✅ I'm comfortable with taking responsibility for my choices.
✅ I meet deadlines without being reminded.
Less than 4 positive responses? Perhaps it's a lack of framework... or confidence.
To remember
Autonomy is freedom framed by meaning and responsibility. It is a professional attitude that is expected and valued in a world where everyone must know how to manage their work, their choices... and their results.