Empowering employees is a key element to creating a successful organization. When companies invest in their employee’s well-being, ultimately everyone in the organization wins. For example, studies have shown that empowered employees are more committed to their job, more innovative and productive and more likely to stay with their employer. Although the return on investment from employee engagement is clear, the challenge is knowing the best practices and tools to use to empower your employees.
In this article, we will cover the best practices and tools for employee empowerment. Let’s take a look at what makes up an effective employee empowerment program, as well as some specific strategies and tools to help your team reach their potential.
Why Empowerment Matters
Before diving into the best practices and tools for employee empowerment, it’s important to understand why empowerment matters. Simply put, empowered employees are more likely to be engaged and productive in their roles. They are more invested in the company’s success and more committed to their job.
Studies have shown that empowered employees are more engaged, more creative and even more likely to stay with their current employer. This is because when employees are empowered, given the right tools and resources, they are able to do their job better, which in turn makes them more successful—and more likely to stay.
Empowerment Leads to Improved Productivity and Innovation
Empowered employees also tend to be more productive and creative. When employees feel empowered, they often take initiative and make decisions without having to receive permission from their managers. This autonomy leads to improved productivity and better problem-solving, resulting in higher levels of innovation. Studies have also shown that empowered employees tend to think ahead and look for solutions, rather than simply complying with instructions.
Furthermore, empowering your employees makes them more likely to offer up suggestions or solutions. When employees feel like their ideas and suggestions are valued, they are more likely to come up with ways to enhance the company’s processes or improve the customer experience. All of these benefits help to create a better workplace for your employees, resulting in improved employee engagement and better bottom-line results.
Best Practices for Employee Empowerment
Now that you understand why it’s important to empower your employees, let’s look at some key best practices to help you get started.
- Provide Autonomy
The best way to empower your employees is to provide autonomy. Give your team the space and freedom to make decisions and solve problems without requiring approval from their managers. This will reduce bureaucracy and give your employees the freedom to take initiative and tackle challenging tasks.
- Encourage Collaboration
Encourage collaboration between teams so that ideas can be shared, discussed and applied to projects. By empowering your employees to work together, you are creating an environment that encourages learning and innovation. Clear communication within teams and across the organization is key to this.
- Foster Open Communication
Encourage open, honest communication between team members and executives. This will give your employees the chance to express their opinions and ask questions. It will also help you to stay connected with your team and know what’s happening in the organization on a real-time basis.
- Foster an “All-For-One” Attitude
Establish a culture of “all-for-one” where everyone is pulling in the same direction. Encourage team members to come up with solutions and ideas, recognize team successes and foster a sense of collective responsibility.
- Provide Flexible Working Arrangements
Provide employees with options for flexible working arrangements, such as flexible hours, off-site working and working from home. This will give your employees more control over their work schedule, allowing them to work around other commitments.
- Provide Opportunities for Professional Development
When you offer your employees the opportunity to grow and develop, it gives them a sense of purpose and encourages them to go the extra mile. Professional development initiatives can take many forms, such as trainings, workshops and team-building activities.
Tools for Employee Empowerment
Now that we’ve covered the best practices for employee empowerment, let’s look at some specific tools you can use to help your team reach their potential.
- Employee Engagement Platforms
Employee engagement platforms such as Asana, 15Five and TinyPulse provide a centralized hub for your team to collaborate on tasks and discuss ideas. Through these platforms, team members can easily stay in touch, share their experiences and provide feedback.
- Learning and Development Platforms
Learning and development platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Pluralsight and Coursera offer employees the chance to expand their knowledge and develop their skill sets. These platforms provide employees with the resources and tools they need to sharpen their skills, stay up-to-date on industry trends and find new career growth opportunities.
- Task Management Tools
Task management tools such as Asana and Trello enable teams to organize and streamline their tasks. These tools make it easy for team members to assign responsibilities, keep track of projects and review progress.
- Performance Management Platforms
Performance management platforms like Trakstar, cielo and Kalibrr enable managers to keep track of employees’ performance and provide ongoing feedback. These tools make it easier to track employees’ progress in order to provide insight into their successes, challenges and areas of improvement.
Employee empowerment is essential to creating a successful organization. Companies that empower their employees can achieve higher levels of innovation, productivity and retention. The best way to empower your employees is to provide autonomy, encourage collaboration, foster an “all-for-one” attitude and provide opportunities for professional development. Additionally, there are a range of tools that can help you to manage tasks, collaborate with team members and track performance. By considering these best practices and tools, you can create a successful employee empowerment program and drive your organisation forward.
