How Can We Get Empowered?

Do these questions sound familiar?

. How can I encourage people to make decisions when management is absent?
. How can I encourage calculated risks so our company stays current?
. How can we act as a team, instead of individuals striving for separate goals?

The answer is in one word...EMPOWERMENT. Empowerment gives confidence, strength, and trust in your own authority. Successful businesses especially know the impact of an empowered team.

Learn the 5 P’s of empowerment to support motivated people who’ll bring long-lasting results:

1. Permission...to make decisions and take risks.

- Help people see how they’re setting up roadblocks to their success. You may hear people saying "I'm not ready yet", or "I don't know enough". If I waited until I was ready to make that perfect keynote speech, I'd still be waiting!

- Encourage calculated risks! These positive statements should become standard in your workplace:
- "Everyone fears new things when they are on unfamiliar territory."
- "The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go out and do it.”
- "There are three kinds of people - those that make things happen, those that watch things happen, and those who wondered what happened!"

2. Protection...even if they make a mistake.
- Make sure the penalty for failure is not greater than the penalty for doing nothing.
Part of growth is learning from our mistakes.

- Make sure you stand by your coworkers, even when they fail. If they make a mistake, ask this very important question, "What did you learn, and how would you handle it differently if this situation came up again?"

3. Purpose: Know the company’s goals and answers to the typical conflicts that arise.

- Challenge your coworkers by asking why and why not. This forces constant improvement.

- Recognize market changes. Encourage problem solving and brainstorming. Technology is expanding at an amazing rate, making some present techniques obsolete. Look at trends and then be ready!

4. Proficiency: Know the difference between complacency and excellence.

- Encourage people to think of themselves as the owners of their own careers. Help them learn features and benefits of every product and service in the company.

- Train people to listen to the client's needs. Role play with common objections, so staff is prepared when they’re rejected. This way, everyone will be more prepared.

5. Pay-off: Appreciate and recognize superior work.

- All people have a basic need for appreciation – don’t be afraid to speak up. Let your coworkers know the success of the business is partly due to their efforts and achievements.

When you use the 5 P's of empowerment you’ll see an increase in morale, productivity, and success. These are my tried and true methods - experiment with your own, then sit back and enjoy the fabulous results!