More Impact, More Easily

10System ten: Empowerment

Empowerment is a much‐misunderstood idea, and one that causes workplace friction. Staff want to be given more autonomy, and leaders want staff to be more accountable. They are both saying the word ‘empowerment’, but each group means totally different things by it.

The confusion isn't helped by the fact that there are two very different definitions of the verb ‘empower’. Here are the two Merriam‐Webster Dictionary versions:

To give official authority or legal power to

To promote the self‐actualization or influence of

A vast but subtle difference exists here. One definition is the tangible transfer of authority, while the other describes a feeling.

The workplace friction around empowerment comes from this difference, and through executives choosing one definition and the workforce choosing another.

I hear the following feedback on a regular basis from these two groups:

• Workforce: ‘I want you to give me more authority to be empowered.’ (Definition one.) Managers in particular feel that they face high expectations and significant accountability, and yet are hamstrung when it comes to making decisions or asserting authority because ultimately they still have to ‘ask their boss’. Naturally, this makes them feel disempowered.
• Executives: ‘I give you permission to feel empowered.’ (Definition two.) Executives are desperate for their managers to have more confidence, make more decisions and step up. They feel they have empowered their teams but aren't seeing ...