To increase Autonomy, 15Five recommends...

  • Grant autonomy.

    Encourage People Ops/HR to develop practices that grant team members autonomy and give them the flexibility to choose when and/or where they work if possible.

  • Clearly communicate cultural norms.

    Ensure People Ops/HR clearly communicates the cultural norms of the organization, such as flexible working arrangements.

  • Minimize micromanagement

    Encourage managers to minimize micromanagement by allowing their team members to find their own ways to accomplish their objectives.

  • Give employees whole pieces of work

    Train managers to ensure team members have ownership of whole pieces of work.

Additional resources

Questions adapted with approval from Sheldon, K. & Hilpert, J. (2012). The balanced measure of psychological needs (BMPN) scale: An alternative domain general measure of need satisfaction. Motivation and Emotion, 36(4): 439-451.

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Dan Pink (2011)

Self-Determination Theory and The Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-Being by Ryan & Deci (2000)

Self-Determination Theory and Work Motivation by Gagne & Deci (2005) 

The "What" and "Why" of Goal Pursuits: Human Needs and the Self-Determination of Behavior by Deci & Ryan (2000) 

Self-Determination Theory and Basic Needs Satisfaction by Deci & Vansteenkiste (2004)

Self Determination by Wehmeyer, Shogren, Little & Adams (2017)

Living Well: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Eudaimonia by Ryan, Huta, & Deci (2006) 

Making People's Life Most Worth Living: On the Importance of Passion for Positive Psychology by Vallerand & Verner-Filion (2013)

Self Determination: The Tyranny of Freedom by Barry Schwartz (2000) 

Bigony, C. (2019). 15Five: Technology aligned to the science of thriving. (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

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