First published on LinkedIn.
This month I asked you whether you feel that you have agency and autonomy in your role. Although most (42% of all responses) said they have a lot, the remaining categories were mostly equally scored. This signals to me that we as managers and executives have more work to do in regards to creating a workplace where people have the agency and autonomy they need to excel in their jobs.
How do we build a team that is committed and excited about the work, who is engaged and who is able to come up with new ideas?
We do this by empowering them and advocating to give them autonomy so they can be innovative and make the best decisions. Empowering others supports growth in areas you don’t expect.
When teams feel empowered, their confidence in leadership increases. Trust is a huge piece and so is transparency. When teams are informed about decisions, they are 2.4x more likely to work better and get results.
Employees that feel empowered will feel more connected to their organization, which will in turn make them more likely to stay if they believe they are valued.
This is part of the same line of thinking to invest in your people. As an organization, you can invest in people’s development and growth through training, but also in giving more opportunities for autonomy and agency.
In fact, according to Gartner’s 2023 HR Survey, 56% of employees say that their experience at work which encompassed their relationships with colleagues and whether or not they felt the work was meaningful, played a significant role in their job satisfaction. It is just as important as the benefits!
What else does empowerment do for teams? It makes them highly motivated! This is also true when teams are given greater agency and autonomy. Teams will have more trust in each other, higher innovation & ultimately increased output and productivity.
As the Owner/Founder of a micro-business, I empower my team by giving each individual the ability to be…
A Problem Solver: Someone who welcomes challenge and sees it as an opportunity to create something new or improved.
A Strategic Thinker: Someone who can take a step back, sees the bigger picture, and makes a decision based on the desired vision.
A Solutions-Oriented Innovator: Someone who thinks outside the box and considers solutions that are pragmatic and easy to implement.
What does this sound like? An entrepreneur!!
Entrepreneurs are also highly motivated, passionate, confident, innovative, curious, persistent, and risk-takers. These are all characteristics we want our teams to embody.
Managers and leaders may fear giving up control. This was something I also had worries about prior to hiring my team, but I realized that by delegating, my business was able to grow and evolve to new industries, take on new client challenges, and improve our services.
When we lean into this fear and choose not to delegate, we run the risk of becoming micromanagers. This can significantly impact an employee’s engagement and productivity. It can also lead to a psychologically unsafe work environment, and nobody can thrive in a situation like that.
And employees may also share a fear of control – a lack of control over their career. This feeling, however, can be addressed by building a relationship with an employer or manager that is willing to invest in or advocate for their career, also known as a Career Sponsor.
As I share in my trainings, if you want success in your career, it’s important to act as the CEO of Y-O-U!! Remember, embracing the unknown is part of the life of an entrepreneur!
This August is Black Business Month - Be sure to check out my posts this month as I’ll be highlighting Black-owned businesses and tools that can help you find Black-owned businesses in your area.
My new LinkedIn Learning course to “Overcome Managerial Bias in Performance Management” is now LIVE! I have made the access link for FREE for you!
In this course, I teach you the types of bias that can impact performance management—and how to identify and overcome managerial bias. You will learn about the key performance management practices that mitigate bias, the role of diversity and inclusion in performance management, and tools and technologies for bias mitigation.
Please be sure to check it out and provide feedback!
AUGUST OBSERVANCES:
Black Business Month: It’s a time to acknowledge and appreciate Black-owned businesses across the nation and all that they represent in the country’s continual striving for diversity and equity. When we celebrate the contribution of Black business owners and entrepreneurs, it pays homage to them and their legacies, especially since celebrating this month recognizes the importance of Black-owned businesses when it comes to contributing to the nation’s economy.
National Wellness Month: Research has shown self-care can help increase happiness by up to 71%. National Wellness Month was born out of the idea that if we are going to do big things in the world— build our careers, raise a family, further our education, create new ideas, and nurture our bodies — we need to take care of ourselves.
August 7 - Mom’s equal pay day: The wage gap for all working moms stands at .$62 on the dollar as compared to all fathers, and $.71 for moms working full-time, year-round as compared to full-time, year-round working fathers. Cultural stereotypes and workplaces designed around workers without caretaker responsibilities deeply impact women who are both employees and caretakers. Moms are the backbone of our society, dedicating their time and effort to both their families and their careers. Yet, pay discrimination, caregiver discrimination, and lack of paid leave in many of the jobs held by women continue to hold them back, impacting their economic security and future opportunities.
August 8 - International Allyship Day: This day is dedicated to celebrating and promoting the power of allyship across the globe. On this special day, we come together to recognize the importance of standing up for one another, fostering inclusivity, and building bridges of support and understanding.
August 9 - International Day of the World’s Indigenous People: This day aims to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.
August 17 - Marcus Garvey Day: This day honors the legacy of Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, and orator who advocated for the empowerment and rights of people of African descent. His work emphasized racial pride, self-reliance, and economic empowerment.
August 19 - World Humanitarian Day: This day honors the humanitarian aid workers who continue to sacrifice so much to protect and assist the world’s most vulnerable populations.
August 21 - World Senior Citizen’s Day: This day aims to raise awareness about issues that affect senior citizens and their quality of life. Today, seniors are still active in their communities as well as continuing to have a strong presence in the workforce.
August 23 - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade & its Abolition: This day has been set aside to pause and remember the tragedy of the slave trade. It should offer an opportunity for collective consideration of the historic causes, the methods, and the consequences of this tragedy.
August 26 - Women's Equality Day: This day is celebrated in the United States to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex.
August 31 - International Day for People of African Descent: On this day, the world comes together to honor the shared heritage, diverse culture, and profound influence of Africans and the global African diaspora.
Until next month... Be well and stay safe & healthy!
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