The Lost ARC / Unit 7 ARC 165 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
The Four Levels of Autonomy Support
The idea
The book describes four levels of autonomy support, from minimal to maximal, each suited to different people, stakes and stages of development.
In practice
Step one, informed compliance: the leader decides and explains why, for fast decisions, safety matters or inexperience. Step two, guided choice: the leader sets the objective and the limits, and the person chooses the method. Step three, collaborative design: leader and person jointly set the objective, the approach and what success looks like. Step four, full ownership: the person defines the work and runs it, and the leader becomes a resource rather than a director.
Where people slip
The book stresses that even the lowest level beats uninformed compliance, because explaining the rationale treats a person as a thinking adult rather than an instrument. Where a person sits depends on their capacity and the stakes, never on the leader's comfort.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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