The ABC of Empowerment

When managers move from controlling roles to empowering ones, there’s a seismic shift in the climate of the organization. Let this ABC of empowerment show you how.

A is for Assets because that’s how empowering managers see their staff.
B is for Back-up because that’s what empowering managers give their staff.
C is for Control, not by managers but by people themselves.
D is for Delegation, the natural style of empowering managers.
E is for Encouragement, the fertilizer of performance
F is for Fair process where work and play are the same.
G is for a new Generation of workers who no longer expect to be treated like numbers.
H is for Helping, the new defining role of managers.
I is for Intrapreneuring, where everyone in the organization feels and acts like an in-house entrepreneur.
J is for the Joy people feel when they take back control for their work and no longer fear what they do.
K is for Kindling the spirit which inspirational managers do.
L is for Letting teams try things out for themselves, even if they stumble at some of the hurdles.
M is for Maturity, because empowering managers are like parents whose kids have grown up.
N is for the New-age manager, who is prophet and poet, partner and participator, philosopher and performer, pioneer and persuader.
O is for Ownership, because work now really belongs to the workers.
P is for new Power skills, based on confidence and vision, belief and inspiration, determination and learning.
Q is for Quality circles, the forerunners of empowerment.
R is for Releasing, not restraining.
S is for Self-managing teams who manage each other all day and every day rather than teams you manage when you have time for it.
T is for Trust, the glue that binds the empowered workforce.
U is for Unlocking potential, the glorious by-product of empowerment.
V is for adding Value because now there’s nothing stopping people doing what’s needed.
W is for re-defined Work, no longer a 9-to-5 kind of dying but a chance to excel.
X is for the Xcitement people have when they walk through the door each day.
Y is for Yea-sayers, not Nay-sayers.
Z is for Zenning, meaning total absorption, fascination, and commitment to the job in hand.

Learn and practise this new management alphabet and the performance of your teams will disappear through the roof!