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I Have The Power!
Watch how this method is used
Doing it Right
Doing it Wrong
People talk about employee empowerment in many different ways. Basically it refers to giving your employees opportunities to make decisions, and making those decisions the right ones. This typically requires the organisation to let go of some control, but if done right, empowering employees can lead to increased productivity and job engagement.
(Adapted from The Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence Handbook, 2013)
The following video clips will demonstrate the negative and positive examples of empowering employees to take on a specific job role.
- Select employee with the desirable attributes and attitude towards work.
- Identify an area of empowerment for a specific function or work area.
- Explain the purpose, boundaries and expectations of empowerment to employee.
- Allow employee to exercise empowerment for a given period.
- Affirm employee’s ability and contribution after the defined period.
- Organisation / management
- Promote an open learning culture by providing opportunities for employee to learn by taking the lead in new tasks or projects.
- Ascertain if employees already have the necessary skills and knowledge to make those decisions, or if additional training is required.
- Communicate confidence to employees in their decision-making ability.
- Workplace ‘trainer’
- Ensure employees feel well-supported and safe in asking for help.
- Determine areas that employees can make decisions as they carry out their work.
- Provide guidance when asked and give clear instructions on expectations with room for employee to exercise discretion.
- Ask specific questions when unclear even if it may seem trivial.
- Ask what can be done and what to avoid, and ask for examples when unclear.
- Take notes to help remember the information and details provided.