We all want a certain level of unique power and responsibility in our professional roles. Our jobs aren’t just a paycheck – they’re the foundation of our own personal engagement and empowerment!
Key Takeaways
Employee EMPOWERMENT starts with more than just eliminating micromanaging. It takes active efforts from all parties!
- Employee engagement and increased productivity
- Motivation
- Purpose and alignment with company culture
- Open communication on all levels
- Welcoming and collaborative social style
- Established and clear expectations of job responsibilities
- Reinforcement through positive leadership methods
- Management support and understanding
- Empowerment through planning and preparation
- New ideas and opportunities to make decisions in the workplace
- Training and growth opportunities
Empowerment in business can look like many different things and can be expressed in many ways. Here are eleven of the most fantastic ways employee EMPOWERMENT can show up in the workplace!
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#1. Engagement And Employee Productivity
You might initially think that employee empowerment is a buzzword that doesn’t mean much. But this is so far from the truth.
Employee empowerment is about creating a working environment where workers can take control of their potential and develop the skills necessary for continued professional development and success.
The benefits of prioritizing employee empowerment are endless. But we can break down these many benefits into what they look like as examples in the workplace.
The Foundation Of Workplace Empowerment
Let’s start with a classic.
Employee engagement is something that leaders are constantly seeking to improve and focus on in the workplace. Engaged and productive employees are critical to a successful business and healthy company culture.
Empowered employees are engaged employees. So if your leadership is vying for more productivity and engagement from your employees, empowerment is essential.
Keep in mind that when employees feel disconnected and unmotivated, engagement falls, and performance as a company suffers. Engagement and empowerment go hand-in-hand.
#2. Motivation Through Job Satisfaction
Empowering employees gives them fuel. Increased decision-making and extra responsibility are surefire ways to add some motivation to the workplace.
But it’s a double-edged sword. On the one hand, empowerment helps motivate employees. On the other hand, motivation is critical in empowering employees.
Empowerment increases employee satisfaction by creating a well-defined vision, providing resources to thrive, and connecting employees with a greater purpose.
And when workers are satisfied and happy in their roles, it gives them a new heightened level of motivation at the corporate office.
#3. Purpose In Employee Roles And Responsibilities
Finding a purpose is the foundation of empowerment.
When workers feel connected to the organization and its mission, they find a purpose in their work. Conversely, there’s nothing less empowering than workers who have no clue how their work fits into the entire company.
To empower employees, you need to demonstrate how their work processes are received on the other end. Show them how they are essential to the operation of the company and business.
A sense of belonging, responsibility, and commitment are vital for your employees to feel empowered.
#4. Open Communication Can Help Empower Employees
Empowerment starts with trust. This has to come from all sides.
Your employees should be able to trust company management and leadership to be honest and open. And the company’s leaders (including you) need to trust employees to take control and step up.
Communication Is About Trust Between Team Members
Empowerment starts with communication. Be open with your team members about what is expected of them, and be clear about where they can take the reigns.
You also need to let them know about the happenings of the company. They can’t be left in the dark. A candid conversation can do more than you realize.
#5. Welcoming And Collaborative Social Style
Empowerment and confidence are very closely related. Maybe it doesn’t seem like it at first, but it’s true!
Self-confidence and self-empowerment are all about believing and trusting in oneself. When workers feel confident in their professional lives, they will radiate empowerment.
Confidence Is Integral To Empowerment
Confidence can be demonstrated socially. How employees interact with those around them should be open, welcoming, and interactive. That’s a sign of confidence.
Conversely, employees with low confidence levels will be shy, withdrawn, and afraid to open up. As a result, they’ll likely avoid risk-taking and ignore growth opportunities.
Implement empowerment practices by prioritizing and capitalizing upon confidence and increased authority.
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#6. Established And Clearly Defined Boundaries
Empowered employees know what to do and understand what is expected from them. As a manager, it’s your duty to ensure your employees can get there.
You need to give direction and provide a start to your workers. For increased decision-making, employees need to understand the boundaries associated with it.
For example, an employee can be given increased authority when handling customer refunds but understands that there is only a certain amount they can offer.
#7. Reinforcement Through Positive Methods
Don’t forget; we’re all human. That includes your employees. And sometimes, we mess up!
Understand that your team won’t have perfect performance 100% of the time. Maybe they’ll make a bad call or slip up somewhere. But mistakes are the most crucial part of the learning process.
I didn’t get to where I am without my fair share of mistakes. But at the end of the day, that’s what taught me the most in my journey as an emcee and made me successful!
Positive reinforcement is critical in empowering your employees. As employees develop their decision-making skills and take on new responsibilities, help them through the process using positive methods.
#8. Management Support Is Key In Empowering Employees
The office isn’t an “every man for himself” kind of place. Instead, teamwork, cooperation, and collaborative problem-solving are all essential for success on a company level.
Managers and leadership members need to be active in supporting their team members. There needs to be a well-rounded commitment to the cause of empowerment.
Take, for example, any new hires. You can’t just let them go freely on day one and expect great things in return. Instead, give them the tools and resources to explore their abilities and role.
And at the same time, you need to be sure you’re not micromanaging your team. Here’s a quote from Theodore Roosevelt to help.
“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” – Theodore Roosevelt
#9. Employee Empowerment Through Planning
Don’t be reckless with your distribution of power. It’s up to you to give new responsibilities to your team members and offer them opportunities to explore their skills.
In fact, it’s a good idea to plan it out. If you want to make a positive impact on the professional development of your workers, you need to be diligent.
This kind of preparation can look like anything. Keep track of tasks you assign, so you don’t overload employees. Don’t give employees more than they can handle!
#10. New Ideas And Making Decisions
The lifeblood of empowerment is found in decision-making. This is what employee empowerment is all about!
We find confidence and empowerment in our responsibilities and authority. And when it comes down to it, there’s one particular way to efficiently empower employees in your workplace.
Employee empowerment starts with increased levels of decision-making.
It can be that simple. Give your workers the freedom to make decisions in the workplace. Whatever new ideas they may have about a particular program or maybe even a company-wide event, support them in their journey as they explore them.
#11. Training And Opportunities For Growth
Having a new-found focus on empowerment is the start of something great for your organization. But it takes more than just saying it to make a difference!
That’s where ongoing training and opportunities for growth are essential. And you can start anywhere.
Train your employees in areas such as conflict resolution, negotiation, sales, customer service, or a new program. The more resources, the better.
Employees also want to know that there’s somewhere for them to grow. As humans, we are not usually fond of the idea of being stuck somewhere.
Whether it’s stepping into new roles or expanding upon their current ones, make sure your team knows there’s room for growth and new opportunities!
Keep Reading: 6 Tips For Boosting Morale Among Remote Employees
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Adam Christing has been called “The Tom Brady of emcees.” He has hosted more than 1,000 company meetings, special events, gala celebrations, and more. He is the author of several books and founder of CleanComedians.com. For more event tips, follow Adam Christing on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
