HR Ink

Empowering employees is not a new concept, however, throughout my experience, I have seen multiple Human Resources departments opt to find quick solutions for employees that usually involve handholding rather than empowering their employees to grow and problem-solve on their own.

For instance, there have been cases where HR has to set a calendar reminder for managers when a new employee starts and in some cases, when they need a probationary review as well. As you can see, this is just HR doing a manager’s job as opposed to HR empowering the manager to improve their organizational skills and monitor when they need to meet with their team members. The manager should have had enough reminders throughout the recruitment and onboarding process to keep track of when the new employee is starting and when their probationary review should take place. Therefore, HR should not need to set another reminder for the manager.

This may seem minor, but empowering employees is crucial to driving organizational success. Here are the benefits of Empowering Employees:

1. Increased Engagement & Motivation

When employees feel empowered, they are more engaged, motivated, and committed to their work. They become more resourceful, innovative, and they take pride in their contributions. This leads to higher levels of job satisfaction and productivity. 

2. Improved Problem-Solving & Decision Making

By empowering employees to make decisions and solve problems autonomously, organizations tap into a diverse range of perspectives and expertise. This not only leads to faster decision-making but also enables the organization to adapt more quickly to changes in the market.

3. Higher Retention and Talent Development

Empowerment is a powerful tool for talent retention and development. When employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow, they are more likely to stay with the organization long-term and contribute to its success.

How Can You Empower Your Employees?

1. Encourage Open Communication

Create a culture of open communication where employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas, concerns, and feedback without fear of retribution or judgement. When employees are encouraged to communicate, they create better relationships with their coworkers and managers.

2. Offer Training & Development Opportunities

Invest in employee training and development programs to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their roles and advance their careers. This can be as simple as personality tests to help them understand themselves better and how their communication comes across to others.

3. Provide Autonomy

When employees have the ability to act independently and are not micromanaged, they are empowered to rely on themselves when it comes to problem solving and conflict resolution. They will look to find a solution with the resources they have as opposed to reaching out to their manager or HR to solve their problems.

So HR peeps, look at the big picture on how you can create a culture of empowerment that allow employees to feel valued, motivated, and resourceful. When empowered, your employees create better relationships, contribute their best work, and will help drive your organization to success.

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