5 effective ways to empower teams

How empowered your team is? Will they do a job without your assistance? Are they over-dependent on you? As leaders, one of the key things you must always do is empower your team. Empowering the team you manage is very crucial. By empowering them you foster reliability and team-work. Here are some effective ways in which you empower your team.

1. Be a good leader

Adopt the traits of a good leader who promotes employee empowerment. Always show respect for yourself and for your team. One way of doing this is to be accountable for the things you say and do at the same time expect the same from the team. Be sincere and listen to your team. Communicate regularly and effectively. Another key point is to communicate regularly and effectively to the team. 

2. Acknowledge employee achievements

One of the three general rules for empowering the people around you is appreciation, the other two being approval and attention. Very important when it comes to empowering people. Make it a point to mention the successes achieved by the team in board meetings and congratulate them. This is also a great way to create an office atmosphere focused on success and to empower employees.

3. Delegate

Another way of empowering your team is to delegate tasks clearly and concisely. Make sure that there are no gray areas when it comes to assigning tasks. By doing this, everyone is clear about what is expected of them. And more important is by delegating, you are sending the message to the team that you are entrusting them the complete responsibility and it improves their confidence and will in turn reflect in their work.

4. Promote employee education

Offer training programs to the people that are necessary for them to perform better. This also will send the message that you are concerned and interested in their professional success. Encourage them to attend career development seminars and courses. This is a great way to empower your team members. The team’s performance would improve and also you would be gaining their loyalty. 

5. Encourage creative thinking

As Edward de Bono, Internationally acclaimed author and trainer said”Creative thinking is not a talent, it is a skill that can be learnt. It empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities which improve teamwork, productivity and where appropriate profits.”Creative thinking always empower people. Challenge your team members to come up with out of box solutions for the problems they face during workplace.

Most leaders think they can do all the work on their own, and many try and fail too. But then in order to build a successful organization that outlives you, you have to empower those around you. I hope these methods will help you in empowering your team.