Leading an organization requires utmost ability in empowering people. People tend to adhere to ideals, support worthy causes, cooperate, and collaborate when they are empowered enough.
In the context of a workplace, even long-tenured and well-remunerated employees veer away from their head’s directives, become lax in the conduct of their designated tasks, and focus more on things unrelated to work even during office time when they are not empowered enough. Foremost step in empowering people in an organization is to make the organization’s vision, mission and goals clear to every member of the organization. As head of the workforce, you have to give your subordinates the opportunity to appreciate the fundamentals by which your company was founded and continues to exist. Regardless of their position, designation or specific task assignment, they have to understand the reasons for which your company is pursuing its goals and its future direction. This can be done by allowing them to undergo a process like where they are given the orientation they deserve and the opportunity to draw their own objectives towards realizing your company’s goals. Empowering people in an organization entails making clear the role of each one as part of the organization. Critical to their delivery of the output you expected of them is your subordinates’ understanding of your specific objectives and targets as head of the workforce and their roles in achieving them. Their position, designation, and specific task assignment must be thoroughly discussed to them. Making clear the roles, ways, and lee ways is a way of empowering people towards self-direction, self-regulation, creativity and collaboration. The parameters of your subordinates’ specific tasks like time-frame and quality, as well as the boundaries by which they are allowed to make certain decisions, execute their own workstyles, or exercise their creativeness must be made clear as well. Awareness of each other’s roles and of how they can possibly help or support each other pave way for team work. Giving some extent of autonomy in carrying their roles is a way of empowering people. Rather than giving extensive ‘to-do’ lists that may curtail your subordinates’ initiative and creativity, you must calibrate giving instructions and directions. Give proactive guidance, reminders, and encouragement but let them manage on their own within the designation, direction, parameters, and boundaries already given to them. Allow some extent of autonomy for them to discuss among themselves ways on how to carry-out their roles and how they can collaborate with each other. Giving acknowledgement and recognition is a way of empowering people. Whether or not the hard work of your subordinates resulted in the achievement of goals, it is still important to acknowledge their hard work and recognize their contribution. Giving due compensation has been proven an effective way of empowering people. While a self-empowered leader can draw support from his subordinates, recompensing good intentions and efforts sustains their support even more. Especially in the workplace, due compensation and incentives drives your subordinates to further their hard work and dedication to the company.
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Self-empowerment in essence is power over self. It means taking control of your own life- choosing which life path to follow, setting your own goals, directing the course of your life, as well as being responsible for the consequences of your choices. It is about your ability to pursue your aspirations for yourself and for others thereby impacting significant change.
Self-empowerment is not about defiance nor dominance. It is not about your confidence to dictate on others. Some of those whose standpoints you challenge may feel doubts and reservations but that does not mean they are not self-empowered. There were those who endured years of oppression but silently forged their inner strength and eventually rose-up liberating themselves and impacting social change, like Martin Luther. Self-empowerment is not anchored on richness, social status, nor on political connection. Many who were born and raised in affluence end-up groping during the financial crisis. A lot of powerful politicians failed to effect social change. There were those who relinquished their riches and chose to live with the poor yet exemplified service to humanity, like Mother Teresa. Self-empowerment is fueled by inner strength. How to be that empowered? Here are 3 life-changing steps to follow: Step 1: Know and accept yourself. Ascertain your strengths as well as your weaknesses. Distinguish your needs from your wants. Identify your wishes as well as your inmost longings and desires. Recognize your own values, beliefs, and principles. Acknowledge your intentions and aspirations. And then embrace who you really are. Unless you truly know and fully accept yourself, you cannot step-up to forging power over yourself. Step 2: Declare your life goals and work-up yourself towards attaining them. Accept yourself but never settle for you are a work in progress. Further hone your strengths and find ways to confront your weaknesses. Learning is a lifetime process and evolving into a better you entails constant hard work. Study with constant practice is key to acquiring knowledge and skills necessary for you to respond to your needs and wants, longing and desires, wishes and aspirations. Achieving your life goals is your own mission. You are responsible for your own well-being and happiness just as you are accountable for your own failings. Step 3: Impact positively on the imperfect world around you. As you endeavor towards your personal goals, you will be challenged either by differing individuals or trying circumstances. Things usually happen not according to your plans and expectations. And oftentimes, you cannot effect change out-rightly because most problematic situations are already systemic. Rather than whine and bark complains, effect proactive and creative change. This calls for the best version of yourself – your abilities to:
Self empowerment is that power that you harnessed from within you. |
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