Oskar Henrikson

Children and teams can do it on their own

Make a list of what your team members are permitted to decide on their own. Make another list of what they need to run by their manager. Think it over! Is this a good level of self-determination?

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Happier teams

Children and teams can do it on their own

Like a well-intentioned parent, a manager can come in and micromanage everything from PR campaigns to design. This can negatively affect a group’s ability to make its own decisions. According to self-determination theory, autonomy is one of the most fundamental needs that people have. We seem to be more motivated when we are allowed to make our own decisions on how the work should be carried out. Make sure to arrange a high degree of self-determination in the groups that exist within the organization.

More psychological training tips

Oskar Henrikson

Feedback loop

Go around the team. Each person receives feedback from everyone else. Talk about a situation in which you think the person did something well and helped achieve your shared goals.

Establish boundaries and step out of the box

Ask everyone on the team to list their most important tasks (max. 10) in the next month. Then list the decisions that may need to made quickly. Do you have the authority to make these decisions yourself? Check with the team.

Do preconceived opinions affect some employees?

In the next meeting with the team, have each person make an unanticipated statement about themselves that challenges a stereotype. For example: “Many people probably think that... but...” Then ask each person to tell about a time when they had a prejudice against someone else disproven.

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