6 Effective Ways to Empower Employees in the Workplace

“Empowered employees are 67% more willing to put in extra effort on the job”. –Forbes

The above stat proves that every organization must aim to empower their employees as it increases their engagement and enhances their performance levels. Empowerment can take many forms, from providing opportunities for professional development and growth to giving employees a sense of autonomy and control over their work.

By investing in employee empowerment, organizations can create a culture of innovation and collaboration, resulting in increased productivity, better decision-making, and improved business outcomes.

This article discusses the effective ways in which firms can empower their employees and how SAVIOM‘s ERM tool can help.

Let’s dive in and explore ways to empower employees in the workplace!

1. Why is employee empowerment necessary?

Employee empowerment is a management strategy where resources are given a certain degree of autonomy to make decisions and act independently within their roles and responsibilities without continuous supervision. For example, a company can provide employees with authority to make decisions on customer service issues up to a certain dollar amount. This can lead to quicker resolution times and better customer satisfaction.

Now, coming to its necessity,

Employee empowerment contributes significantly to developing a positive work environment that promotes individual and organizational growth. Additionally, it encourages them to take risks and try new things, which can lead to greater innovation and creativity, as employees feel free to experiment and develop new ideas.

Moreover, it enhances job satisfaction and builds a culture of innovation and creativity.   Also, the resources become capable of operating with minimal management control, giving managers more time to work on strategic goals. Furthermore, when employees feel entrusted, it boosts loyalty, which helps the firm retain top talent.

Now that we know the benefits let’s discuss the best ways to increase employee empowerment.

2. Best ways to empower employees in the workplace

Here are six ways in which firms can create an empowered workforce efficiently.

2.1 Define goals and expectations clearly

It is essential for managers to clearly define the organizational goals for the employees as it enables them to align their efforts in the right direction and fulfill the KPIs. In addition, managers should also provide employees with the necessary tools and support to perform their tasks effectively.

Moreover, clarifying the boundaries and setting the standard before the project’s onset infuses self-discipline in the employees and helps them understand how their work contributes to project success. Thus, it creates a greater sense of empowerment, ownership, and accountability in them, improving productivity.

2.2 Facilitate 360-degree feedback system

Implementing a 360-degree feedback system is a powerful way to empower employees as it helps managers review employees’ performance and identify the areas needed to be improved. Accordingly, employees can work on the performance gaps proactively.

The feedback system also serves as a coaching tool for employees to understand how they can better contribute to the organization and improve their work relationships. In addition, it helps resources identify their true potential, push them to go beyond their comfort zone, and deliver the best results.

2.3 Avoid micromanagement and provide autonomy

Micromanagement creates an environment of constant supervision, leading to a disengaged workforce. This can be detrimental to employee empowerment, as it can lead to a lack of trust, reduced autonomy, and lower morale.

Therefore, managers should grant employees the authority to make decisions and take ownership of their work. It will encourage them to be creative and innovative and bring novel ideas and perspectives, enhancing their performance. Further, this cultivates a positive work environment and ensures the timely delivery of projects, improving client satisfaction.

2.4 Provide appropriate growth opportunities and support

Employees with access to professional development and skill-building opportunities are more likely to feel motivated and engaged in their work. Therefore, organizations should build an IDP (Individual Development Plan) for resources to improve their growth.

Further, firms can provide different training programs such as peer-to-peer coaching, on-the-job training, shadowing opportunities, etc. This will help them feel more confident and capable in their roles, leading to better project outcomes. Moreover, multi-skill building opportunities allow the workforce to take up different projects, diversifying their career portfolio, thus, increasing the retention rate.

2.5 Consider employee interest before allocation

Considering employee interest before project allocation is an essential aspect of empowering employees. When managers allow employees to work on projects aligning with their interests, they feel valued and supported. They are also more likely to be engaged and go above and beyond in their work.

For example, an IT project requires a web developer with experience in C++. Before allocation, the resource manager can publish the vacant position. Accordingly, candidates can show their level of interest, and managers can then evaluate the skillset and select the best-fit developer. This leads to better performance, as employees can use their strengths and expertise to contribute to the project’s success.

2.6 Implement effective rewards and recognition policy

An effective rewards and recognition policy is essential for organizations to retain and empower their employees. A well-designed policy can help boost productivity, increase job satisfaction, and create a positive work environment. To achieve this, firms can first clearly define and then communicate the specific criteria that employees must meet to be eligible for rewards and recognition.

These rewards can be in the form of bonuses, promotions, paid time-offs, personalized emails, vouchers, public appreciation, etc. When resources are appreciated for their hard work, they feel empowered. Additionally, recognizing employees’ contributions can encourage and motivate other team members to work productively.

Now that we know the steps let’s see how a modern ERM tool will help.

3. How can advanced resource management software enhance employee empowerment?

An empowered workforce will give an organization a competitive edge in the market. Here’s how SAVIOM’s next-gen ERM software can help:

• The tool provides 360-degree visibility of all the resources and their attributes like- skills, availability, schedules, etc. It helps managers allocate the right employees to suitable projects. As resources are assigned according to their skillset, they feel empowered and motivated to work.
• Further, managers can use the forecast vs. actual reports to gauge the productivity of resources. It will help measure the level of variance and recognize high-performing employees. On the contrary, for underperforming employees, managers can create IDPs which will help improve their work performance.
• Additionally, the tool provides capacity vs. demand reports by which managers can get an idea about the future pipeline project demands. Thus, they can take necessary measures in advance and create upskilling programs that will empower the workforce to take up multi-faceted projects.
• Lastly, the tool offers an open seat feature, where managers can post the upcoming project vacancies, and employees interested can apply for the same. When employees are selected to work on projects that interest them, they feel empowered and put in the effort to achieve the desired outcomes.

This way, a modern ERM solution enables managers with different ways to empower and support their employees.

Final takeaway

“Never tell people how to do things. Instead, tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.” –General George S. Patton.

Rightly said. Empowered employees are more confident and inspired; thus, they are more productive and perform better. So, managers should implement the above-mentioned practices coupled with a robust ERM tool to empower employees successfully. This will also ensure the timely delivery of projects and enhance the organization’s bottom line, increasing profitability.