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HOW TO EMPOWER PEOPLE IN THEIR LINE OF WORK Employee management is a first concern of any supervisor or manager at work. Effective management and leadership of employees allow the manager to accomplish his/her goals at work. It further allows him/her to capitalize on the strengths of employees and their ability to contribute to the achievement of work goals. A successful employee- management relationship is one that promotes employee engagement, employee motivation, employee development, and employee retention. This is what employee empowerment is all about. It is perhaps one of the most challenging responsibility of every manager in any organization because of the fact that the key to any successful organization is first and foremost, its employees. There is no substitute for a knowledgeable and productive workforce. Creating empowered team like people working with all the direct information, power, recognition, reward, and training they need to satisfy their customers and meet the organization’s goals and objectives, is one way an organization can build on that foundation. So what exactly does it mean to empower people in the work place? Empowerment is the process of enabling or authorizing an individual to think, behave, take action, and control work and decision making in autonomous ways. It is a sense of personal power, confidence and positive self-esteem, and involves a process of change that can be achieved in relation to specific goals. Empowering ourselves as well as others involve a thoughtful planning. It should have alternative courses of actions, and then following through whether it was successful or created a desired change. As it is undoubtedly every leader or manager’s dream to have an empowered employees in his /her workplace, people who show initiative by taking on and completing tasks with little guidance, and in ways consistent with the organization’s objectives and values, the following steps would aid in the manager’s attempt at empowering people in their workplace: 1. Know their skills and qualifications As a manager it is essential for him/her to look over the employee’s curriculum vitae and find out what their strengths and abilities are. This will help the manager decide where to maximize their potentials.

How to Empower People in Their Line of Work

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Page 1: How to Empower People in Their Line of Work

HOW TO EMPOWER PEOPLE IN THEIR LINE OF WORK

Employee management is a first concern of any supervisor or manager at work. Effective management and leadership of employees allow the manager to accomplish his/her goals at work. It further allows him/her to capitalize on the strengths of employees and their ability to contribute to the achievement of work goals. A successful employee-management relationship is one that promotes employee engagement, employee motivation, employee development, and employee retention.

This is what employee empowerment is all about. It is perhaps one of the most challenging responsibility of every manager in any organization because of the fact that the key to any successful organization is first and foremost, its employees. There is no substitute for a knowledgeable and productive workforce. Creating empowered team like people working with all the direct information, power, recognition, reward, and training they need to satisfy their customers and meet the organization’s goals and objectives, is one way an organization can build on that foundation.

So what exactly does it mean to empower people in the work place? Empowerment is the process of enabling or authorizing an individual to think, behave, take action, and control work and decision making in autonomous ways. It is a sense of personal power, confidence and positive self-esteem, and involves a process of change that can be achieved in relation to specific goals. Empowering ourselves as well as others involve a thoughtful planning. It should have alternative courses of actions, and then following through whether it was successful or created a desired change.

As it is undoubtedly every leader or manager’s dream to have an empowered employees in his /her workplace, people who show initiative by taking on and completing tasks with little guidance, and in ways consistent with the organization’s objectives and values, the following steps would aid in the manager’s attempt at empowering people in their workplace:

1. Know their skills and qualificationsAs a manager it is essential for him/her to look over the employee’s curriculum vitae and find out what their strengths and abilities are. This will help the manager decide where to maximize their potentials.

2. Ask them what they are best capable of and find most enjoyment in doing, within the scope of their job description.This will encourage them to contribute in their areas of specialty and interests.

3. Give frequent praises for good work everyday.Most people thrive in positive feedback. It helps them to know what they are doing is appreciated, and will encourage them to continue their good work.

4. Foster open communication.Managers must give employees structured ways to make their thoughts, feelings , and observations known easily and regularly. Help them understand that their input is valued. Make sure you acknowledge them for sharing, and reward valuable input that helps the organization.

5. Avoid criticisms if possible.Criticisms has the opposite effect of praises and can discourage people greatly.

6. Reward self-improvement.Some managers complain that employees are stagnant, but do nothing or little to help them grow. In such case, promotion and money becomes imperative to get people to advance.

7. Clearly define roles.

Page 2: How to Empower People in Their Line of Work

People who don’t know what they are supposed to do can’t do it very well. Additionally, they need to know their boundaries so they don’t step on other’s toes or creates inefficiency through redundancy.

8. Require accountabilityPeople need to know when they are meeting expectations, and more importantly when they are not. No one will maintain accountability if they don’t understand the consequences of failure.

9. Support their independence.A leader or a manager who is constantly looking over the shoulder of employees is little more than a baby sitter. Employees must be given opportunities to stretch out on their own and even lead others.

10. Appreciate their efforts.Empowered people need a greater level of satisfaction than simply financial stability. They need to feel that management appreciates their contribution and values their participation.

11. Provide plenty of context.Most managers/ leaders carry lots of information in their brains. Great leaders figure out how to extract important information from their minds and share it in a structured and consistent manner, so that employees clearly understand the core values, purpose, and direction of the organization, and can easily make consistent decisions and take appropriate actions at any junction.

12. Provide opportunity for further training and education.Allow the employee to expand their knowledge and skills so they can contribute in greater ways.