Be an empowering manager

I hear a lot about ‘we want to empower xxx’ but what does empowerment look like? Empowerment means different things to different people. Here’s my take; when you empower you;

EXPLORE: Talk to your team, find our what engages them, which part of their jobs do they enjoy?, which parts don’t they?; what can you do to support them do better?, what new things can you give them opportunity to try?

MOTIVATE: True motivation rarely comes from outside. But when you understand how your people are wired you can ‘motivate their motivation’, help them understand what ‘drives’ them so that they can use that to benefit the organisation and their own careers.

PERSEVERE: Not every one will be raring to go because you gave them a ‘pep’ talk or encouraged them. Give it time and help them work through what’s stopping them from wanting to them step outside their comfort zone.

OPTIMISE: Don’t focus only on their job description. What more can they do or are willing to do based on their skill sets and their interests?. What do they do really well that even you can learn from or get them to teach others?

WAIVE: When your team start doing more, reaching higher etc give up what you may think is your right to take credit for what your staff are doing. Give them the ‘thumbs up, keep them spotlight on them for doing more and making you look good. They’ve earned it.

ENGAGE: Empowerment is not a ‘start and end point’ process. It is ongoing process to help your team step away from any preconceived ideas of what they feel they are or not capable of. So ensure you are available to them.

REGULATE: Some people’s desire to be more empowered might be high but acting on that desire can take more time. So don’t go piling work on them because they said they want more. Use your judgement to pace things.

Now take action: What barriers might you be unconsciously putting in your team’s way?

What will you stop doing?

When we think about our goals or how to become better, we often think about what more we will do to get us there. We never really consider what we will stop doing. Stopping the things that weigh you down is important too. Here’s where to start;

CREATE A STOP DOING LIST: What have you been doing ‘forever’ that is no longer relevant or does not serve your goals? Poor habits like procrastination, or even ‘just passing’ time. Focus on what matters, what has long term relevance and leave out things you have been doing ‘just for the sake of it’

CUT OUT WHAT DISTRACTS YOU: What are the things that ‘eat’ up your time with nothing in return? What friendships keep you stagnant in the same place year in year out? What routine things that look ‘harmless’ are undermining your ability to focus? Do an inventory; track how you spend your time and be honest about not only about what is a poor use of time but also what does not add any value to you.

DITCH SMALL MINDED CONVERSATIONS: The mind is a powerful thing. If you feed it good information it’ll serve you well. If not, you’ll see the fruits of that too same out. Small conversations are the ones that have no purpose to them, focus on complaining or don’t challenge your thinking in any way. Of course you’ll have chat chats here and there but if these are your main conversations; you might want to consider including in your network people who will engage you in some agenda setting stimulating discussions.

AVOID SITUATIONS THAT KEEP YOU STAGNATED: You gamble with your career when you keep yourself in situations that diminish your potential, where you are no longer learning anything new or where future opportunities very scarce. If you must remain in such situations make sure you have other creative outlets to keep your career prospects positive.

Now take action: Decide this week one thing you will stop doing