Throughout my time in the creative industry, I've learnt what works best for my mindset and productivity in order to produce good work. The worst thing for me is to be put in a box, where I'm confined to an exact process, place and schedule. In other words, occupying a cubical in a corporate office from 9-5 is a sure path to an unproductive, unfulfilling day filled with daydreams and despair.
On the flip side, in an environment where I have flexibility over my space, time and methods, I can get the job done with an effective and positive attitude. Here's what it looks like for me:
Autonomy in Environment
The space in which I'm working plays a massive role in my effectiveness and what works best can be dependant on the type of work I'm doing. Some days what I need is the vibrant and buzzing energy of the office, working amongst other creatives in our co-working studio. Half of the time my work requires creating designs, talking big ideas or collaborating on projects, so having likeminded people around me helps get the creative juices flowing.
The other half demands concentration, and I do this work best if I can get deep into flow state - typically in isolation. This could be at my home office, or even a local cafe if I'm looking for inspiration.
Whatever my tasks or even my mood might call for, having the freedom to adapt and put myself in the right environment will let me work to my strengths.
Autonomy in Time
Sometimes I wish I would work with the same level of productivity at the same times during each day, but that's just not always the case. I can be extremely inspired and energised at 6am one day, but then at 10pm another. Having to work during regular business hours isn't a problem for me, but I've found that having that flexibility to be able to start/finish early or start/finish late has also let me play to my strengths and align my work hours with my day-to-day productivity moods.
Autonomy in Process
Even working within the general systems and processes of our business, I still love being able to have some autonomy over how I arrive at the end result of our designs or websites. Every project is different and needs a different types of inspiration, exploration or even presentation. I'm lucky enough to work with this level of flexibility, which gives me the freedom to explore new ideas, test theories and optimise my workflows as I grow.
Why It's Important
With autonomy in these areas, I'm able to prioritise my mental and physical health which helps me maintain a positive approach to my role. I've been both a team player and a team leader in my working life, and I've seen autonomy play such a big part in keeping people motivated and productive. I think it's a key step towards work life balance and overall job satisfaction.
Nick Timms
