Empowerment: Definition and How To Apply It in the Workplace

When someone is empowered, they feel more capable of making decisions and carrying them out on their own. There are likely to be many occasions throughout your employment where you can give yourself and your coworkers a boost. If you want to be more driven to succeed in your profession and provide encouragement to your coworkers, learning about empowerment and discovering methods to empower yourself and others is a great place to start. 

What is empowerment?

Motivating oneself or others toward a worthy purpose or target is an example of empowerment. It encourages independence, promotes decision-making, and facilitates problem-solving. In order to help its employees progress in their careers, many companies give them access to training programs, tools, and even special duties. 

To truly feel empowered in your profession, you must make the most of your abilities in a way that advances your career and your company. You can boost productivity and morale in the workplace by giving employees more say in how they contribute to the company's mission and long-term goals. Workplace effectiveness may benefit greatly from empowerment, whether at the corporate or the individual level.

How to empower yourself at work

Taking measures to increase your sense of agency at work can speed up your rise through the ranks and even help you succeed in your chosen field over the long term. Boost your drive and give yourself the upper hand by following these guidelines. 

1. Learn what your employer expects of you

Understanding your place in the organization and the standards your boss has set for you is the first step toward a more confident attitude on the job. Think about the company's long-term goals and where it wants to go in the next year.

To further your understanding of how your yearly team and personal goals contribute to achieving larger organizational goals, schedule a meeting with your manager or direct supervisor. Create a detailed list of your present and potential future job tasks and review it frequently. 

2. Choose a mentor

You can feel more invested in your work and progress toward your professional objectives when you work with a mentor. If possible, look for a mentor who is employed by a similar business or organization to yours. Attending workplace events geared toward networking might help you meet potential mentors, as can tapping into your existing professional connections.

When looking for a mentor, it's wise to think about people who have achieved the level of success you envision for yourself. Once you've found a suitable mentor, schedule regular meetings to talk about where you want your career to go and what advice they can give you. 

3. Ask for consistent feedback

It's always a good idea to solicit input from those closest to you in the workplace. You can learn a lot about how you're doing in your role by soliciting critique from your coworkers and superiors. Knowing your own limitations in this way can give you a leg up in your drive to succeed. 

4. Communicate with your supervisor

Talk to your manager or supervisor about how you might get additional responsibility at work. Schedule monthly meetings to talk about how you can get started on the path toward your professional goals. Also, inquire as to the many job opportunities available within the organization and where they think your skills would be most valuable. 

5. Invest in your learning

Think about participating in a training program or taking a course outside of work to hone your professional abilities. You can more easily reach your professional goals and better handle a wide range of unexpected situations if you increase your knowledge.

Connecting with peers in a similar training program or course might be useful as well. As you gain expertise, you can help one another put it to use on the job.