Right Fit Leading: Empowering Employees

The best way for leaders to address employee needs is to create a network inside the team where members can interact.  Ensure that each member understands their value to the organization’s bottom line. Then make them accountable for group activities and ensure they accept administrative responsibilities. 

Work with group members to offer growth opportunities in an effort to create behavioral changes or adjustments that improve performance.  If team members struggle with or reject the opportunities, leaders should conduct interviews or counseling sessions in an attempt to find the reasons for rejection of the task or hesitation to adjust to group norms and values.

The leadership path to success is improved by empowering group members.  Leaders should not limit employees by treating them as if they are just task driven. Group members can be more productive if and when they view themselves as part of the decision process. Make them feel like they are facilitators, conveners, and brokers who engage a variety to talents to accomplish the goal.

When group members accept this level of responsibility for the outcome, clearly assigned responsibilities, structured information flow, and measurable performance goals are easily accepted as well.  The combination of empowerment and collaboration can deliver a far great value proposition than would be possible without these characteristics.