Empowering Others - Giving Them Some Control

It's been a pretty good weekend around the place - not done a lot, but I have done what I've wanted to do - and that makes the difference.

I changed my role when I first left the employed world. Having been a manager for over 25 years. I became a true employee with a manager breathing down my neck. It was the most difficult thing to accept. It wasn't because I could do it better (although, then again...!), more it was that I had just no control at all. And I realised that most people who have jobs are total employees and have little say in what they do or how they do it. They are 'done to' rather than deciding for themselves and getting creative and involved.

Sadly I didn't realise this until I was a manager no longer, but what I did realise and share with you now is that to be totally disempowered in your role is demoralising and depressing.

Whilst I realise that perhaps I am more creative and need space to think and 'invent', which some people may not feel quite so intensely, I don't want to assume that. I recognise that everyone needs a little involvement, at least, in what they do and how they do it. Empowerment/engagement whatever you want to call it - it makes that difference.

If I can leave you with a thought to take back into your businesses and workplaces, it is this:-

"What can I do today that will empower at least one person in my team like never before - and how can I build that into our culture from now on."

A big challenge? Maybe. But what a gift you will give to your people - and ultimately yourself and your business too.

And I got loads of stuff done in the garden, that I chose to do. And gardening is not normally what I do much at all! Interesting.

If you want more on this - there is a page on the website that tells you more. Click the link below.

Copyright 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses -to-success.com.

(Note to editors. Feel free to use this article, wherever you think it might be of value - it would be good if you could include a live link)

...helping you, to help your people, to help your business grow...

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Innovation Management ? Selecting Good Ideas

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Innovation Management ? Producing Great Products, Motivation

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Enhancing the Motivational Climate of Your Workplace

It has been well documented that employees' productivity and job... Read More

The Seven Essentials of Business Communication

There are seven essential elements to successful business communication:StructureClarityConsistencyMediumRelevancyPrimacy/RecencyPsychological Rule... Read More

The Diamond Cutter

Geshe Michael Roach is a Princeton graduate and a Buddhist... Read More

How to Say No

Rejection hurts. No one likes to give it or to... Read More

Problem-Solving Success Tip: Test Your Assumptions About Everything

Test your assumptions about everything.Assumptions have a way of creeping... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Directors, Consultants and Managers

Creativity and Innovation is essential for competitive advantage, yet the... Read More

Make It Easy to Reply - Voice Mail That Works

If you are like most business people, voice mail has... Read More

Getting to Consensus

The need to get people in an organization to pull... Read More

Change Management: Getting Everyone on Board the Change Train

How do you get everyone on board the change train... Read More

The Ivory Tower Syndrome

"His cardinal mistake is that he isolates himself, and allows... Read More

What Makes a Crisis a Crisis?

If you're old enough and were living in America about... Read More

Overcoming Perfectionism

Perfectionism can get in the way of building or marketing... Read More

Loyalty, Motivation And Work-Life Balance

Managers who aren't loyal to their people can't expect loyalty... Read More

Collections Management

How long does it take your customers, clients or patients... Read More

How to Make the Best of it - Take Your Weather with You

I once worked in a place where there were three... Read More

Issue Management Methodology for Tracking Project Issues

1. What is an Issue?An issue is an incident, circumstance,... Read More

Manufacturing Capacity as a Commodity

Excess capacity in an automobile plant at Ford, Chrysler, Toyota,... Read More

HRM: Contributing to Well-being or Ill-being at Work?

If you were to take the people out of an... Read More

A Man and His Razor

It is vain to do with more what can be... Read More

Where Else in Your Business Do You Accept a 60% Failure Rate?

I recently surveyed CEOs and Business Leaders of large companies... Read More

Knowledge Mapping

This module focuses on the basics of Knowledge Mapping, its... Read More

Have You Always Thought That The Best Ideas Come From Research Or Management? Think Again

Many entrepreneurs and chief executive officers are unaware that there... Read More

Effective Ways to Give Performance Feedback

Consequences of Not Giving Effective FeedbackLet's take a look at... Read More

The 10 Realities of Change

I've seen several articles that begin with lines like "the... Read More

Getting the Most from Appraisals

Does your organisation have one of those annual 'occasions' that... Read More

Why Business Owners Need Security

The main reason is to stop any potential lawsuits from... Read More

This Old Business

Not long ago I was asked to come out and... Read More

What Every Manager Should Know About How to Overcome Boredom

Do you find yourself easily becoming bored or tired at... Read More

Character: Is It Necessary In Leadership? (Part Two)

In the first part of this two part article, I... Read More

Create Your Methodology Based on a Standard Framework - Part One

OK. So you have decided that your organization has to... Read More

Create Your Dashboard for Success

Driving down the road our eyes frequently scan the vital... Read More