Why Your Employees Aren’t Actually Empowered
“I’ve told my employees they’re empowered, but I’m not seeing it.”
I’ve heard this sentiment from a few CEOs, but to foster an empowering environment in your agency, make sure to add 3 other key ingredients.
1. Trust
As an agency leader, you have positional authority. But what’s it like to be on the other side of your message of empowerment?
Not all employees will feel they have the same authority because you said so. They’ll first need to feel they’re in a safe environment to color outside of the lines and potentially step on some toes.
I see agencies with empowered staff when the leadership team has worked hard at intentionally building trustful relationships with employees.
2. Guidance
In the wise words of Peter Parker, with great power comes great responsibility. As an empowered employee, how do I know what actions are truly “safe” to take?
A blank check for action can create more questions than action. Provide guidelines for clarity and to build confidence to act, such as:
How can I improve our client’s experience?
How can I help other teams?
How can I enhance the integration of work across teams?
How can I elevate our creativity, quality of work, or ability to innovate?
How can I impact our revenue or expenses?
3. Recognition
Support momentum by removing blockers and celebrate action, bravery, and learning every chance you get.
