Have you heard a manager friend complain about how they can never be gone for vacation or job-related seminars or conferences because they can't trust their employees for that long? If so, they have not found the principal of empowerment...
When a manager feels unable to be away from their business, because they do not have capable people in place, it must be a very frustrating experience.
Letting Go Through Empowering Your People
Many managers are taught to be "hands-on" and not pass on tasks of any importance to their subordinates.
They feel that if they don't keep on with the 'doing' they will be falling down on their job somehow - or maybe that their people will regard them as slacking in some way!
Working this way means they're a decision-maker and this undermines the value of each of their employees contributing fully.
Employees Will "Pass The Buck" Without Empowerment
Some employees enjoy being able to say, "call back on Monday", or "I can't make that decision, you need to speak with the manager".
That way they can get off making a decision and risk less.
Why be dealing with an unruly, dissatisfied customer, when they could be doing something less stressful with their time?
Managers Bring This On Themselves
It's easy for a manager to let this happen.
It's quite a step to recognize that employees will evolve their capabilities when they have the trust of the manager and are allowed to do more.
Particularly for customer-facing employees, the ability to act fast and delight customers needs to be a given in any business.
Customers Want Employee Empowerment
No customer likes to be told that 'the manager will be with you in a minute'. Often they will treat this as a 'put-off' designed to hold off a decision in their favor.
They can see it as a stalling technique and is more likely to require more costly remedies for the problem the customer has.
It's a no-win situation for a manager that wants to portray that they are in control.
Capable Employees Are Good For managers
A manager cannot do it all - their performance depends on how they get the best from their team.
By giving employees the capacity to act on the manager's behalf they will benefit incredibly with that level of trust.
Having the knowledge that whatever happens, they will be fully backed up frees them to be creative and happy with their new responsibilities.
Any manager with that sort of team ethic will benefit hugely from the freedom that comes as a result.
What Empowerment Brings
Of course, when a manager has been used to keeping every tricky decision to themselves, it's a bit of a fear to let things go - and it can be one of the best things they can learn to do.
Individuals start to flower in their abilities and become the swan to the ugly duckling of the past. - producing results even beyond their own imagination.
A manager who unleashes the potential of their people in this way will achieve a fulfilment of their own possibilities and that of those in their care too.
Any Manager Will Value Empowerment Skills
It's an amazing experience as a manager when you turn someone on to the hidden capabilities they have within them already.
For the manager, there is a sense of freedom, closely supplemented by a knowledge that they are developing their people - a wholesome fulfilling result for all. - 15478
When a manager feels unable to be away from their business, because they do not have capable people in place, it must be a very frustrating experience.
Letting Go Through Empowering Your People
Many managers are taught to be "hands-on" and not pass on tasks of any importance to their subordinates.
They feel that if they don't keep on with the 'doing' they will be falling down on their job somehow - or maybe that their people will regard them as slacking in some way!
Working this way means they're a decision-maker and this undermines the value of each of their employees contributing fully.
Employees Will "Pass The Buck" Without Empowerment
Some employees enjoy being able to say, "call back on Monday", or "I can't make that decision, you need to speak with the manager".
That way they can get off making a decision and risk less.
Why be dealing with an unruly, dissatisfied customer, when they could be doing something less stressful with their time?
Managers Bring This On Themselves
It's easy for a manager to let this happen.
It's quite a step to recognize that employees will evolve their capabilities when they have the trust of the manager and are allowed to do more.
Particularly for customer-facing employees, the ability to act fast and delight customers needs to be a given in any business.
Customers Want Employee Empowerment
No customer likes to be told that 'the manager will be with you in a minute'. Often they will treat this as a 'put-off' designed to hold off a decision in their favor.
They can see it as a stalling technique and is more likely to require more costly remedies for the problem the customer has.
It's a no-win situation for a manager that wants to portray that they are in control.
Capable Employees Are Good For managers
A manager cannot do it all - their performance depends on how they get the best from their team.
By giving employees the capacity to act on the manager's behalf they will benefit incredibly with that level of trust.
Having the knowledge that whatever happens, they will be fully backed up frees them to be creative and happy with their new responsibilities.
Any manager with that sort of team ethic will benefit hugely from the freedom that comes as a result.
What Empowerment Brings
Of course, when a manager has been used to keeping every tricky decision to themselves, it's a bit of a fear to let things go - and it can be one of the best things they can learn to do.
Individuals start to flower in their abilities and become the swan to the ugly duckling of the past. - producing results even beyond their own imagination.
A manager who unleashes the potential of their people in this way will achieve a fulfilment of their own possibilities and that of those in their care too.
Any Manager Will Value Empowerment Skills
It's an amazing experience as a manager when you turn someone on to the hidden capabilities they have within them already.
For the manager, there is a sense of freedom, closely supplemented by a knowledge that they are developing their people - a wholesome fulfilling result for all. - 15478
About the Author:
(c) 2008 Martin P Haworth, a business coach and 25 year time served manager, is the author of Super Successful Manager!, an easy to use, week-by-week development program for managers of ANY capability. Want a free sample lesson? It's waiting for you at http://www.SuperSuccessfulManager.com.
