Staff Empowerment enables employees to make independent autonomous decisions in almost any situation. Dunlap1 found that by empowering employees, managers create a nurturing environment in which staff can learn, grow, improve, and function effectively. Staff empowerment gives employees a sense of trust, importance, and capability - creating a positive work environment. Erikson2 stated that empowerment occurs when managers engage staff in ways that promote personal and professional growth.
In many organisations, the workforce can feel frustrated by lack of autonomy, this leads to unnecessary stress and lack of productivity. Empowerment encourages employees to identify problems and solutions. This creates a positive working environment.
Teamwork and Empowerment
Managers should value the unique contributions that each person brings to a team and try to nurture their strengths. By allowing all team members to emphasise their own unique strengths and by equipping them with effective, reliable tools, a team can become more than the sum of its individual parts.
Ten principles of staff empowerment.
1. Demonstrate That You Value People
Your regard for people shines through in all of your actions and words. Your facial expression, your body language, and your words express what you are thinking about the people who report to you. Your goal is to demonstrate your appreciation for each person's unique value.
2. Share Leadership Vision
Help people feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves and their individual job. Do this by making sure they know and have access to the organisation's overall mission, vision, and strategic plans.
3. Share Goals and Direction
Where possible, either make progress on goals measurable and observable, or ascertain that you have shared your picture of a positive outcome with the people responsible for accomplishing the results. Empowered employees can then chart their course without close supervision.
4. Trust...