How often does your organization give employees responsibility without a clear direction or an understanding of the expectations? This can, and most often will, result in low productivity, confusion, and lack of results, that creates low morale and possibly high turnover. However, employees that are empowered will produce amazing results in the workplace.

Guidelines For Empowering Employees

Include Employees in Direction Of Your Company

This includes a part in the strategic planning phase, writing goals and objectives. Let your employees help determine the timelines and rewards for completion of the task.

Be Clear In Your Communication

Be sure employees understand what you are asking for. Ask them to recap the conversation, listening for gaps in what you said and what was repeated back.

Use Their Ideas

How much time do you spend listening to your employees’ ideas and suggestions? Ask for their input in how they would go about completing a project. Let them do it their way if practical.

Demonstrate Your Trust

Determine what resources they need before they start the project and clear the way for the resources to be available. Resist checking in on every detail, but have controls in place.

Give Realistic Timelines

Determine together a realistic timeline. Be specific as to when a project is due, don’t say, “Return this to me as soon as possible.” If you need it by the end of the week, say so clearly.

Establish Priorities

It is helpful for employees to know which pieces are the most important to you. Make certain that they know what needs to be done first and why.

Coach, Don’t Manage

Coach your employees to success. This means listen, ask questions, offer strategic advice, and always give direct feedback.

Your challenge: Meet with your team to discuss how they can feel more empowered in their jobs. Listen to their ideas and implement at least one of them immediately.