By empowering and making people feel empowered to act, you not only ensure that they complete their tasks, but you also convey positivity to the environment in which they operate. When everyone feels they are in control and is able to share the commitment and results, the work is done with more diligence and the fruits to be harvested are better. If you intend to empower your employee, a guy or a group of people, it's important to keep positivity, trust and opportunity alive.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Empower Your Employees
Step 1. Get to know your employees
It's easy to judge someone and find some reason not to hold them accountable. Learn about the skills and qualifications of your employees. Examine their resume and find out what strengths and abilities they possess. This way, you can decide in which sectors to maximize their potential.
- Listen to them, more than talking. Be aware of their emotional state and realize that their awe can come from difficult situations.
- Ask them what they feel most capable of and what they enjoy most to work in as part of their duties. This way you can encourage them to collaborate in their area of expertise and in the field of their interests - and make sure that happens.
Step 2. Praise them often, whenever they have done a good job.
Most people grow and improve in an environment where they constantly receive positive feedback. It's a way of saying you appreciate their contribution, to encourage them to move forward and to make them feel empowered.
Create an atmosphere that takes into account both their successes and their failures. It is appropriate to congratulate employees who have taken a risk, even if they have not achieved the desired results. However, you know they have learned a valuable lesson for themselves and the company. They were brave enough to set an example for everyone
Step 3. Avoid criticism if you can
Criticisms generate an effect opposite to that produced by praise: they strongly discourage people and often throw them to the ground. Assume that others are always in good faith, be understanding, think about the positive aspects of the situation and compare their mistakes with those you have made yourself or could have made.
If you have to make a criticism, try to be constructive, always put praise before a note and offer clear suggestions on how to improve. Criticism that offers no solution is meaningless and useless
Step 4. Give training and education opportunities
Enable your employees to broaden their knowledge and skills, so they can make a better contribution to the business. Sometimes, especially in the workplace, people feel a sense of helplessness, as if they can't leave any marks, no matter how hard they try. However, as they acquire more skills, they feel important and more involved.
- Check that all people have the technological tools they need to be efficient and make sure they know how to use them. Tell them, "If you have any questions, ask me and I'll see how I can help you." And fix any problems.
- Encourage employees to spend about ten minutes a day learning new skills - technical and non-technical - for use in daily life.
Step 5. Share information freely and easily
Sharing information with employees is partly a matter of trust and partly of resources. It primarily fosters trust between employer and co-workers - after all, we hardly share information with those we don't trust. Second, it gives employees the resources they need to do accurate work - in fact, we know how difficult it is to make a wise decision when we don't have the information to take action.
Set goals and objectives and communicate them clearly. Make sure you organize every detail, from the corporate mission to the vision of the founders, from group goals to individual assignments. Employees feel more empowered when they understand both small and big goals and aren't forced to improvise, going blind
Step 6. Feed a learning climate
Have the workgroups examine various situations each week and discuss together to determine how they could handle them and achieve a different outcome. It is very similar to what happens in life: learning new things as you grow up and analyzing what has been done in the past.
Create an environment where mistakes are accepted. Sometimes empowering employees means giving them leeway to try things they've never done and accept the results, albeit uncertain. Employees who fear trying something new for fear of negative feedback or criticism will not go beyond the boundaries of their position. This approach, in turn, conditions them not to put their skills to good use. Except for some limitations - discrimination or unlawful behavior in the workplace - do your best to encourage them to take risks. When an employee makes a mistake, encourage him to learn and move on
Part 2 of 3: Empowering Children and Young People
Step 1. Find out why a child feels deprived of their abilities
To begin addressing the problem, you need to know its origin. Are you being bullied at school? Do you feel stupid or ugly? What are the relationships with parents and teachers? Generally children are carefree, unless there is a specific problem.
- Once you begin to understand the reason behind this behavior, you can move on to the next step and help him gain self-confidence.
- Sometimes the problem depends on the situation. If it is the youngest of four sisters, a child who is part of a minority group or a girl, it may be that the power relations in the environment in which she lives affect the perception of her person. If you can address these issues during your child's developmental stage, you will be able to make their adult life infinitely easier.
Step 2. Use positive language
Do not sigh, as it can be seen as a sign of dejection. Even if he is in a difficult situation, let him know that you are proud of him because he doesn't hesitate to try, take the risk, and find out what doesn't work. Be on his side, regardless of everything, and always cheer on him.
Instead of saying "he's not stupid," tell him he's a smart guy. Instead of saying "he wasn't wrong," tell him he did well. Talk about what he has done and look at everything from a positive perspective so that he feels he is in control of the situation
Step 3. Help him feel more confident
Value the physical or character aspects that he doesn't like and bring him to a higher level of personal awareness. For example, if he feels ugly, point out little things, like "What a beautiful skin you have!". Sometimes try to be more precise in your compliments, for example by saying, "Your eyes are like two stars. They are beautiful." The more you go into the details, the more he will convince himself and think the same about himself.
If you are confident, get him to reflect and express himself on the aspects of his person that he likes. Whenever he feels down, you can touch on this topic. You should also add other details that lead him to keep your consideration in mind: "Do you remember that time you spent all Friday night worrying about your sister? You are a really kind and caring boy."
Step 4. Offer positive incentives
Thanks to the compliments and rewards you can encourage anyone. With a child it's like granting a privilege. When he comes back from school with a good grade on his report card, tell him that he did a great job, that you are proud of him and that he can choose what to do in the evening. If you press him because he behaved well, he will begin to understand that he can shape the world around him: he will feel empowered and empowered to act.
Most people don't get stuck at what they can't do, but what they believe they can't do. When you create an environment in which a person is capable of doing anything, they gain self-confidence, even exceeding your expectations
Step 5. Transform the environment in which the children live into a healthy and positive place
If you can, surround them with people who can build their confidence, who show interest in everything they say and can learn from. If certain friends don't meet these criteria, do what you can to keep them away from them, explaining why. Eventually they will be convinced and see the negative influence these kinds of people have on them.
It also encourages a healthy lifestyle. When a person eats well and plays sports, he feels better - including children. Taking care of your body helps you to be more efficient, cheerful and feel good about yourself. If you can, set a good example and support by exercising and eating well with the kids. You too need to stay active and eat healthy
Step 6. Let them know that each of us has our own insecurities, and that no one is perfect
Even those who want to present themselves to the world as a symbol of perfection are still an insecure person, because they will always fear that others may notice their mistakes. Therefore, it is completely normal to feel insecure. We learn, grow and improve every day, so it is a positive evolutionary path.
We all progress daily. No one will ever be "what they want to be". Let him know that he has to give himself time, because he is following a path of growth, change and transformation. Make sure he has confidence in his development, as he needs to go through each stage
Part 3 of 3: Empowering a Group
Step 1. Give the group a voice through the media
The recognition of the media and the support they offer in relation to the results, problems or unfair treatment that affect a certain category of people can be useful to empower a group or a social class. The power of these means manages to raise awareness of a large slice of the public, creating a network of support and giving people the feeling of being listened to. Many try to affirm their presence in the world, because in this way they feel accepted.
- If you can, take the group to Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks. Call local newspapers, both on television and in the press, promote the movement and spread the word.
- Let everyone do their part. Form a committee that collects ideas, where everyone can contribute, without just following your instructions to open a dialogue with the public.
Step 2. Create a pressure group
It is another way to instill a sense of legitimacy in the people who make up the group. Being united and fighting for a cause makes people stronger and more active in controlling their lives and gives a sense of solidarity, without which they would feel powerless.
Think of the situation in which one faction is fighting another, whether it is something hideous, such as racism, or something planned and planned, such as a political election. In times of greatest pressure, people come together, creating movement and taking action. A lobby group can add strength to this motivation
Step 3. Encourage group members to use their voices
Let them know that they have the power to express themselves in things that affect their life, their happiness or even their civil rights. Whether it's a minor discontent or a citizen-wide issue, encourage them to talk. Otherwise, they will get nothing.
For example, some European countries allow citizens to vote on issues concerning entry or stay in the European Union, giving them autonomy and, therefore, empowering them. Use this example and apply it on a smaller scale. You can call votes, organize meetings and even less formal assemblies that gather committees
Step 4. Make them pay attention
To empower and make people feel entitled to act, it is necessary to create the right conditions for them to be comfortable and pay attention. They will not learn anything good if they are not attentive or feel distressed, as they will not listen to what you say.
Your attitude will be very important. If you do not feel entitled to act or ready to lead in an exemplary way, you will not be able to help them find the inner strength to emancipate themselves. If you have faith in your own abilities, you will be able to instill trust in others as well
Step 5. Finally, if you are your own lighthouse, you will bring light into the lives of others
Learn and teach whenever you can, and always ask for advice rather than just following what you think. Open your mind to new alternatives that the group that presents you. Encourage members to step forward if you see a chance for growth. Work with them, without putting yourself on top.
Also believe in what you say. If you claim to be capable of anything, act accordingly. If not, they will not be fooled and discredit you. If you are honest, fair, confident and have their best interests at heart, they will want to live up to your expectations
Advice
- Stimulate collaboration. It's easy to break a straw, but it's much harder to break a whole sheaf. Empower people by encouraging them to engage in a collaborative environment.
- Give support. Always be available and ready to help others when needed. In this way you will foster a positive spirit and put them in a position to reciprocate the gesture.
