Leading author and consultant, Ken Blanchard states “People already have power through their knowledge and motivation.  The key to empowerment is letting this power out.”

So what is empowerment? It is the process of unleashing the power in people — their knowledge, experience, motivation, and focusing that power to achieve the positive outcomes for the organization.

As leaders, we should be striving to create a culture of empowerment.  To do so, we may need to scrub some traditions, habits and even language.  For example — instead of dictating tasks to do – see yourself as a coach — a partner in unleashing their skill and our knowledge.

How about changing the word planning to visioning.  Visioning suggests a more inclusive approach.  Instead of compliance, why not good judgment.  Instead of monitor results, why not self- monitoring.

In empowerment, it means people have the freedom to use their knowledge/skills.  It also means they are accountable for results.