Think You Want To Be Your Own Boss? It’s More Likely You’d Just Like To Be Treated Like An Adult At Work

As we mentioned yesterday, the full DreamChamps site is officially live!

The company guidelines are one of my favorite pages on the site. The list, created by Tony Schwartz, compiles the 12 attributes that define great companies to work for. Although I think each deserves consideration, number seven inspired a big aha for me last week.

Ask anyone why they want to be their own boss, and three out of four times I guarantee you’ll hear, “So I don’t have to answer to anyone! I want to be in charge of making my own decisions!”

I don’t blame you. We all want that. We have adult lives, adult responsibility and make adult choices. So why do corporations often times treat their workers like kindergartners – essentially deeming managers the glorified babysitters? People in these positions often micromanage, assuring that every step of the project is done to their standards and that there is no room for error.

You know what else there is no room for in that model? Creativity.

Creativity comes with responsibility. It comes with freedom and inspiration. Sadly, these are the things that are often missing in the workplace.

A few months ago, my friend Simon Sinek invited me to come see him speak while he was here in Chicago. I always find inspiration in our conversations and his speaking engagements, but one particular example stuck out from this talk.

Simon told the story of a manufacturing design company – Barry-Wehmiller. Not the first organization that would come to mind when you think about amazing places to work, right? Well this particular company was run by a CEO with a vision. He saw the disconnect between employees who worked doing manual labor on the line and those who worked at a desk in the office.

What he saw was a disconnect in responsibility and respect. Those working in the office were given large amounts of it, while line workers (while equally as competent) were treated more like kids. Whenever they needed a supply from inside the office, they were forced to find an office worker, who then unlocked the cupboard where the item was located and watched as they removed it.

A small action – but a demeaning one to a grown man or woman.

The CEO realized this needed to change and started to redistribute responsibility and power equally among both teams. What he saw was an incredible change in the attitudes of the line workers. Something as small as unlocking all the cupboards, therefore giving everyone equal access, showed all the workers that they were adults – and trusted members of the organization.

This was one of many changes that were made a priority at the company. Today, Barry-Wehmiller’s tagline reads: “We build GREAT people, who do EXTRAORDINARY things.”

What if more companies treated their workers like the adults they are?

What if our projects and goals were laid out for us – and then we were free to pursue and meet them in our own manner? Would as many people want to quit their jobs and become their own bosses?

I think not.

It’s clear that freedom is the driver and objective to many. Now it’s up to more organizations to give workers just that.

Dream Bigger,