Why Some Employees Don't Like Having Freedom at Work Leaders, by nature, are entrepreneurial. But that doesn't mean the workers they manage are.

By Lydia Belanger

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

scyther5 | Getty Images

Many leaders are, by nature, entrepreneurial. But that doesn't mean the workers they manage share a drive to think for themselves and solve problems. Some tasks simply don't have room for it.

Some types of work require problem-solving and risk-taking, while more rote, structured jobs have less room for creativity. For workers in the first camp, having the freedom to dream up and experiment with new ideas is crucial to getting their jobs done. But those who aren't responsible for creative solutions might be frustrated or confused when given autonomy.

A study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior concluded that empowering workers -- letting them work without monitoring, asking for input and giving them a role in decision-making -- does not always translate to job satisfaction, skill-building and productivity. In some cases, employees may feel uncertain about how to proceed or even resent leaders who empower them.

Related: 5 Ways to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Creativity

Researchers from the University of Exeter Business School, Alliance Manchester Business School and Curtin Business School conducted the study. They examined the performance of 8,500 workers from 105 companies around the world in a range of industries and found that employees responsible for routine tasks do not respond well when presented with autonomy by their boss. Instead, many suspect a boss is dumping his or her own higher-level responsibilities, such as decision-making, on them. In turn, these frustrated workers are less productive day to day.

Conversely, empowerment encourages those responsible for more creative tasks to work harder, help others and be proactive.

What's more important than granting everyone the independence to manage themselves is trust-building between bosses and employees, the researchers note. Sometimes, empowering a creative worker can backfire if a boss tries to have it both ways, saying they'll let the worker make their own decisions but not giving them the authority to actually do so -- or not being there for employees when they inevitably want to discuss ideas from time to time.

Meanwhile, workers have to prove to their bosses that they can function productively without close monitoring.

Related: Steve Jobs Systematically Cultivated His Creativity. You Can Too.

"Workers have got to feel that their boss supports them to take risks when empowering leadership is being used," says Allan Lee, a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter Business School who led the research, in a summary of the findings. "But bosses are also vulnerable when they manage people in this way. People could take advantage of the trust put in them. Trust is a powerful factor in how effective empowering leadership can be."

Lee and his fellow researchers also made a counterintuitive conclusion about whether managers should give new hires more freedom: It turns out people who are new on the job both respond and perform better when empowered at work, compared to employees who have been on board longer. Even though they don't know the ropes as well, they may be less cynical and more willing to experiment, the researchers note.

Related video: Do You Have the 7 Qualities of a Great Leader?

Lydia Belanger is a former associate editor at Entrepreneur. Follow her on Twitter: @LydiaBelanger.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Uber's CEO Says Drivers Have About 10 Years Left Before They Will Be Replaced

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the jobs of human drivers are safe for the next decade, but after that, another type of driver will take over.

Business News

'I Love Doing Product Reviews': Bill Gates Stepped Down from Microsoft in 2020, But Admits He Still Spends 15% of His Time Working at the Company

In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Gates also said he is still close with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella.

Business News

'Everyone Can Profit From It': What Is DeepSeek? China's 'Cheap' to Make AI Chatbot Climbs to the Top of Apple, Google U.S. App Stores

DeepSeek researchers claim it was developed for less than $6 million, a contrast to the $100 million it takes U.S. tech startups to create AI.

Business News

Elon Musk's DOGE Is Hiring People Eager to 'Work Long Hours' to Eliminate 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse' in the Government. Here's How to Apply.

The Department of Government Efficiency is hiring U.S. citizens to help cut spending and headcounts in the federal government.

Branding

How to Build a Strong Brand Identity for Your Early-Stage Startup

Branding might not be your first priority, but neglecting it can hurt your startup. A strong brand identity early on sets the stage for marketing success.