Unlock Your Organization’s Biggest Superpower

As we conclude this month’s focus on culture, we’re going to dive into the single most powerful way to cultivate good culture: empowerment. Where does the biggest potential lie in your business? In other terms, what’s your biggest unlocked superpower? It’s your people.

As a leader, how do you empower your people?

Do

●       Allow people to make their own decisions

●       Have open debates when there isn’t consensus

●       Ask questions to guide people to their own conclusions

●       Make space for people to take calculated risks

●       Allow the freedom to fail, as long as there is learning 

●       Encourage cross-training and collaboration
 
Don’t

●       Interfere in decision-making

●       Micromanage

●       Dictate what people should do

●       Pigeonhole people into narrow versions of their job description

●       Try to provide all the answers

Basically, empowerment is about listening, guiding, and creating space for people to learn and grow. It involves a small amount of risk and you have to be prepared for some things to not work out as planned. But, the benefits far outweigh any risks. You’ve put in the time to create a values-based organization and you’ve hired the right people. Now you have to support them and let them shine.

Why is this important?

Empowering people allows them to learn at an accelerated rate and with much more fulfilment. You’ve provided the environment and the tools to solve the problem. You’re there to ask questions and coach your team along the way. Now, take a step back and let them navigate the details. Learning in this way has a lasting effect on a person. It will give them knowledge, experience and confidence. Even if they start to go down the wrong path, you are there to guide them back on track. They will appreciate that.

What effect will empowered employees have on your business?

The first thing you’ll notice is that you don’t have to make so many decisions. You’ll have more trustworthy A-players to make them for you. And now that you’ve shown faith in them and given them space to take risks, they will feel more comfortable coming to you for coaching. You won’t have to micromanage. Your team will feel more autonomous and more fulfilled. Best of all, people tend to train others the way they were trained. Empower your people and you’ll start in motion an unstoppable cycle of A-players creating more A-players.

That’s a truly formidable organizational superpower. And it all starts with creating a positive culture.