Introduction

Means allowing a person to run the show by himself.



Empowered employees become “self directed” & “self

controlled”.


Possible only when there is mutual trust between the

superior & his subordinates.


Superior has full faith that his subordinates will not do

anything, which is detrimental to the organization.

Similarly, the subordinate has confidence in his superior that he will

support his decisions and actions.


Empowered manager treats his employees with respect and dignity.



He puts authority, responsibility and resources at the most appropriate

level for each job.


Empowerment may be defined as providing employees at all levels the

authority and responsibility to make decisions on their own.

Empowerment is different with delegation of

authority.
Delegation is actioned by the manager

whereas empowerment is actioned by the

subordinate.
In delegation the superior exercises control

but in empowerment the subordinate

exercises self-control.

Types of Empowerment


Two types of empowerment:

1.
Individual level empowerement
2. group level empowerement
Individual level empowerment:
Degree of control exercised by individual
employees over work setting.
Group level empowerment:
Amount of control exercised by the group as a
whole over the work setting.

Elements of Empowerment:
Main elements of empowerment are as follows:


Self – sufficiency or Competence

It means that one is capable of performing a particular task.
Employees will not accept responsibility for making decisions until they are confident of
their abilities.


Meaningfulness
It means the feeling that the task is valuable both to the organization and to oneself.


Personal control

Impact
It refers to the belief that one has an influence
on decisions of the organization.

Approaches to Empowerment
1.
Job Mastery
2.
Control
3.
Role models
4.
Social Reinforcement & Persuasion
5.
Emotional Support
1.
Job Mastery
Job mastery can be achieved by:
1.
Giving training
2.
Coaching
3.
Guided experience

2.Control
Allowing more control by:
1.
Giving employees discretion over job performance.
2.
Making them accountable for the performance outcomes.

3. Role Models
Providing successful role models by:


Allowing them to observe peers who are performing

successfully on the job.

4. Social reinforcement & Persuasion.

By:


Giving Promise,


Encouragement,


Verbal feedback to raise confidence.

4. Emotional Support
By:
Reduction of stress and anxiety through

better role prescription,

Task assistance,

Personal care.

Importance of Empowerment
1. Knowledge


Knowledge employees are not prepared to

accept the old command and control systems.



2. Cut throat competition



To survive & grow in competitive era, organisations must

meet the needs of customers more effectively.


For this, cross functional working and close cooperation

is required.

Empowerment can provide such cooperation.

3. Speed & Flexibility




Empowerment encourages innovation & creativity on the

part of staff.


Empowered managers can focus more on external

changes than internal problem-solving.
4. Globalization
1. economic globalization and liberalization are leading to
downsizing, delayering and decentralization.
2.in order to achieve co ordination and control in the new
economy, staff must exercise much greater responsibility.

5. Human resource development

1.empowerment helps to reveal and utilize untapped
potential of employees.
2.thus executive empowerment helps to develop a flexible,
responsive and adaptive organization.
3. it represents a major cultural change representing the way
an organization defines its priorities and values and the way
it deals with its people to change their mindsets.