Employee empowerment can mean many things, depending on the organization's culture. Generally, employee empowerment is defined as the process of giving employees the means to make their own decisions regarding their work and the ability to share suggestions and ideas on their work, while ensuring that the choices they make are in line with the company's policies and goals.
The following are five ways for business leaders and executives to empower their workers:
Allow employees to make decisions regarding their work
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Placing decision-making rights in the hands of those who have the most knowledge and the best insight both empowers workers and improves organizational results. However, managers should stress the importance of accountability. This can be accomplished by letting workers know when workers are not meeting their goals and the consequences of wrong decisions.
Encourage creative thinking and idea sharing
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One way is to arrange group brainstorming sessions wherein everyone has a chance to voice out their ideas.
Allow flexibility when possible
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Telecommute options and flexible working hours when possible give employees greater autonomy and free up time for more important tasks.
Clearly explain job roles and expectations
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Workers whose roles are clearly defined can better focus on their own work and are less likely to expend valuable time negotiating roles, avoiding disputes, and protecting turf.
Enforce an open-door policy
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Empowered workers require more than monetary compensation for their hard work. They want to feel that their participation in company efforts matters. An open-door policy lets workers know that their leaders appreciate them and value their contributions to the company.
The benefits of employee empowerment are numerous. Empowered employees feel comfortable with thinking out of the box, asking questions, and sharing new ideas, all of which are critical in preventing organizational stagnation and ensuring that the company stays ahead of the competition. Empowered employees feel more invested in the future of the company they're working for and take pride in their contribution to its success. Another benefit is increased employee satisfaction, which in turn leads to higher levels of loyalty, decreasing turnover rates, and translating to higher productivity and better job performance.
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