Self-management came back onto the agenda in particular when the coronavirus pandemic took hold across the world. In Denmark, we felt the impact, amongst other things, when the country went into lockdown in March 2020. A great many Danish workplaces had to send their staff home, and it was particularly those who usually worked from a desk who now had to practise self-management. In this blog post on self-management, we’ll take a closer look at what self-management is, how Mystery Makers can help create self-managing teams, and also explore whether self-management works in practice when implemented in the workplace – and, if so, what pitfalls to watch out for. Our skilled team coaches at Mystery Makers have more than 10 years’ experience observing the cream of Danish business life in our Escape Room, which is precisely why we know how the strongest and most effective teams collaborate most effectively to, amongst other things, solve complex problems.
What is self-management?
Let's start by looking at what self-management actually is and how it is used in Danish workplaces. In general, self-management is an approach where employees take responsibility for their own tasks, make decisions and control their own work process. Self-management involves a high degree of autonomy and independence, where employees are highly motivated to take initiative, show responsibility and be proactive in their work. It also involves the ability to prioritise, organise and evaluate your own performance, as well as being self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal external control. Essentially, it's about creating a work environment where the employee largely "minds their own business" - both in the open plan office and in the home office.
Why is self-management important?
Self-management has many benefits that can lead to more motivated employees and greater efficiency. That's why we've put together a series of points below to help you learn more about how you can apply and greatly benefit from self-management in your workplace. We want to explore why self-management is important and also why it can be a strength in the workplace.
How do you create self-management in practice?
Self-management provides increased autonomy and responsibility
Self-management gives employees greater autonomy and responsibility for their own work tasks. This can help increase motivation, engagement and job satisfaction as employees feel more involved and have more influence over their work.
Self-management creates higher productivity and efficiency
When employees are empowered to make decisions and take responsibility for their work, it can lead to increased productivity and efficiency. Self-management allows for faster decision-making, flexibility and adaptability, which can result in better business results.
Self-management gives way to enhanced innovation and creativity
Self-management creates an environment where employees are encouraged to think creatively and also come up with new ideas and solutions. By giving employees the freedom to express their creativity and explore innovative approaches, the organisation can benefit from their unique perspectives and contributions.
Self-management reduces the need for micromanagement
When employees are able to manage themselves, there is less need for micro-management and constant monitoring from the manager. This frees up time and resources for both employees and managers to focus on more strategic tasks and development initiatives.
Self-management creates skills development and growth
Self-management allows employees to develop and refine their competences. When they take responsibility for their own learning and development, they can acquire new skills, challenge themselves and grow professionally.
