Langer’s The Power of Mindful Learning Assignment. Coursework

Subject and Section
Professor’s Name
Date of Submission
Langer’s The Power of Mindful Learning Assignment.
For many years, work has been seen as labor, an activity that involves the body and the mind mostly as a way to be able to earn profit for a living. The motivation was considered linked solely on a reward system, that an employee in a workplace will perform based on the rewards, usually in monetary form, that he or she will get. But this is not entirely the case, because freedom or autonomy in a workplace also plays a big role in the motivation of human beings to perform well in a task. I believe that freedom is vital in a working environment for a sustainable above average or exemplary work. Although, this kind of thinking challenges the traditional way of work and workplace environment because a company or an employer-employee relationship is usually bound to a set of job descriptions, strict rules and regulations, and rigid schedules. These have kept companies and workplaces in a controlled and organized environment but have also limited a lot of positive gains for both the company and its employees.
Autonomy, alongside with mastery and purpose fuels the intrinsic motivation that a person has. Autonomy in a workplace leads to more creative and unique ideas in comparison to those that are just motivated by money. The practice of employees having freedom in a workplace does not only influence creativity and innovation but also it decreases the turnover time, increases employee’s satisfaction, builds trust in the workplace and towards the management, and improves customer service. Autonomy being practiced in a workplace vary depending on the line of work that a company does but a general example of how it can be applied in allowing the employees to practice their decision-making skills for increased engagement in that specific task, and also to empower them that the management values the voice of its people. Another example of practicing autonomy in a workplace that has started to be a trend in these past few years is letting go of the 40-hour a week mindset that was equated to productivity before but is now proven to have the opposite effect and just leads to burnout. In this manner, the employees are not evaluated based on the hours they spend in the office but in their actual performance on the tasks given to them, which also creates a sense of fulfillment for the employees which then motivates them to continue to perform well or even excel in their fields.
We all know that too much of anything most often leads to negative results, and the same goes for too much autonomy or freedom in the workplace. The consequences of too much freedom in the workplace may lead to disorganization and chaos. The employees may not be able to perform their expected duties and may be too lax. Another possible problem may also arise with the employees practicing too much autonomy which may lead to them overstepping their boundaries and also trampling on the rights and the freedom of other people in the workplace.
With all these being said, the need for good leadership and management is still a must in order for the employees to practice their freedom. This is to ensure that the freedom of all those involved in the workplace is valued and protected with healthy boundaries that still motivates and pr...