Employee empowerment refers to an employee’s autonomy and ability to make decisions in the workplace.
Employees who are empowered have the freedom to make their own choices, set goals for themselves and manage their time, promoting a healthier, more positive employee morale.
One of the most critical factors of employee empowerment is that the employer trusts their employees’ decision-making and offers them the opportunity to make independent decisions.
Leaders who focus on empowerment in the workplace will ensure that their employees have sufficient authority and resources to manage their time and goals as well as make decisions on behalf of the company. If employees are given the appropriate tools to make decisions, and the opportunity to take leadership, then they are more likely to reach their full potential.
Employee empowerment can exist at several levels within an organization, including organizational, managerial and individual levels. In general, empowered organizations focus on teamwork.
Rather than a traditional hierarchy, with a single decision-maker at the top, empowered organizations share the decision making power with several people or groups by delegating the opportunity to manage goals, decisions, and outcomes.
At the managerial level, employee empowerment helps a team leader better manage and motivate their team. Management who are empowered has the authority to make crucial decisions on behalf of the company, allowing them to perform their job more effectively.
At the individual level, empowered individuals have the power and confidence to manage their work and make decisions, which often motivates them to do well.