The rise of remote or hybrid working means employers are more reliant on employees working independently and often at times, without any supervision. Confidently working autonomously not only increases productivity, but also builds apprentices’ own knowledge and skill set. Demonstrating this to the other learners builds trust and proves that the apprentice is a valuable team player.
The following activities will support apprentices in improving autonomy:
- Ownership of a process: assign apprentices ownership of a specific process or workflow. They are responsible for managing, optimising, and ensuring the quality of that process. Encourage them to identify improvements and implement changes autonomously. Periodically review the process with them to provide feedback and support. Outcome: cultivates a sense of responsibility and accountability.
- Problem solving autonomy: when apprentices come to you with a problem, instead of providing an immediate solution, encourage them to brainstorm and propose their own solutions first. Discuss their suggestions and guide them towards making the final decision independently. Outcome: cultivates a sense of responsibility and accountability.