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Empowerment theory encourages “purposefully participating in a process of changing oneself and one’s environment, recognizing patterns, and engaging inner resources for well-being.” (Crawford Shearer & Reed, 2016). Empowerment theory gives people the tools to recognize their ability to participate in their own life.
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- Overview
- What is empowerment?
- How to empower yourself at work
- How to empower others at work
- Benefits of empowerment in the workplace
Empowerment is the process of becoming more confident and prepared to make important decisions and complete tasks. Throughout your career, you may have a variety of opportunities to empower both yourself and other professionals in the workplace. Learning about empowerment and exploring how to empower yourself and others can help you become more motivated to succeed in your position while also providing your colleagues with encouragement.
In this article, we explain what empowerment is, discuss the ways you can empower yourself and others in the workplace and list the benefits of doing so.
Empowerment is the practice of motivating yourself or others to accomplish important goals or objectives. It helps enable people to take initiative, make decisions for themselves and solve complex problems. Companies often empower their employees by providing them with the opportunity to develop their skills and offering them resources and unique responsibilities to advance their careers.
Professional empowerment requires you to use your skills and talents in a way that benefits both your career and employer while enhancing productivity. By empowering others in the organization to help achieve the company's mission and long-term goals, you can also increase the effectiveness of the workplace and improve trust. Whether empowerment occurs on the organizational level or on the individual level, it can be especially important for an efficient workplace.
1. Learn what your employer expects of you
The first step to feeling more empowered while at work is defining your role in the company and learning what your employer's expectations are. Review the mission, vision and annual goals of the company where you work. In addition, meet with your manager or direct supervisor to gain a better understanding of how your team and individual goals for the year help to accomplish bigger organizational goals. List the individual responsibilities you have in your current position and the duties you might expect in future positions and review them regularly. Related: 10 Tips for Speaking to Your Manager Effectively
2. Choose a mentor
Working with a mentor can help you define your personal career goals and empower you to achieve them while helping you feel more engaged at work. Try to choose a mentor who works in the same industry or company as you. You may be able to locate a mentor by attending company networking events or leveraging your professional network. In selecting a mentor, it's also beneficial to consider professionals who already attained the successes you want to achieve. After choosing the right mentor, meet with them regularly to discuss your career preferences and gain valuable insights. Related: How To Choose a Mentor in 5 Steps
3. Ask for consistent feedback
Ask for feedback from your colleagues and professionals who work closely with you. Gaining feedback from your peers and managers can help you gain a more detailed understanding of your performance. This can help increase your motivation to succeed by allowing you to understand what your strengths and weaknesses are. Related: How To Ask for Feedback at the Workplace in 7 Steps
1. Build trust
It can be crucial that you trust employees to complete certain tasks and achieve goals on their own. When you demonstrate to employees or colleagues that you trust them, you can empower them to perform at their best. Allow employees the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and educate them on how to best avoid making the same mistake. Communicate your expectations clearly and ensure that employees understand what to prioritize. Related: How To Build Trust as a Manager (Plus Tips)
2. Implement feedback
Asking employees what they need and how you might help them can help you empower them to complete tasks more quickly. For example, if you notice an employee having difficulty completing a task, consider asking if they'd be willing to accept your assistance. Let employees know that you value their opinions and that you're interested in improving the work environment. Whenever possible, encourage them to provide you with constructive feedback and use that feedback to improve work processes. Related: 5 Examples of How Employees Can Give Feedback to Managers
3. Offer professional development opportunities
Create professional development opportunities like mentorship programs and specialized training sessions to help employees develop their skill sets and advance within the organization. These opportunities can also reduce confusion on your team and ensure that the employees you're responsible for managing have the chance to improve in their roles. Make an effort to encourage employees to enhance their professional development. Also, consider sharing your own experience and knowledge with them to create a more self-sufficient work environment. Related: 11 Ways To Improve Employee Development
Empowerment allows employees to address important problems in the workplace and work toward achieving essential company goals. Here are some additional benefits of empowerment within the workplace:
•It helps improve job performance. Employees who feel empowered are often more likely to commit to their tasks and develop creative solutions on their own, rather than relying on their manager or supervisor.
•It helps increase trust. Employees who feel empowered rather than micromanaged may also develop more positive relationships with company leadership, resulting in a more trusting company culture.
•It increases motivation. An increased feeling of empowerment can help employees feel more engaged and satisfied with their work while motivating them to achieve their goals and become more productive.
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Extending autonomy and trust. Leaders should trust employees to make in-scope decisions and take ownership of their work. By delegating authority, leaders empower employees to take the initiative and be accountable for their actions. Autonomy allows employees to showcase their skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
- Develop a Positive Attitude. People who believe they control their own destiny — rather than giving in to external concepts such as fate, luck, or circumstance — are more likely to take charge of their future.
- Set Reasonable Goals. Measurable, achievable goals are an important component of self-empowerment, and understanding how to set them can help you feel good about your achievements.
- Surround Yourself with Positive People. Laughter is contagious — and so are pessimism and negativity. Surrounding yourself with like-minded, motivated people can help you feel empowered to achieve your goals.
- Practice Self-Care. Self-care includes any activity that you do for yourself to feel happy and healthy. It can include everything from eating right and exercising to treating yourself to a spa treatment.
Self-Empowerment in Psychology. Self-empowerment in psychology examines how people gain the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to take control of their lives, make independent decisions, and achieve their goals. It involves developing a sense of self-efficacy, self-confidence, and self-awareness.
Mar 20, 2023 · 5 Strategies to Empower Employees to Make Decisions. Leaders often want to give workers autonomy, but struggle to give up control. Summary. Giving employees autonomy is critical for innovation ...
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Feb 22, 2024 · 1. Goal setting and action planning. Encourage clients to set realistic, achievable goals and develop action plans to work toward them. By breaking down large goals into manageable steps, clients can build momentum and track their progress, enhancing their sense of personal agency and accomplishment. 2.
