Empowerment in the workplace: what it is and how it can be achieved

When the term empowerment is used in connection with the workplace, it signifies a process which maximises a person’s potential, while aiming to enhance their individual success and that of the company they work for.

From a linguistic point of view, it is a word of Anglo-Saxon origin and is virtually un-translatable into the Italian language. The concept might be expressed as an ‘increase in power’ (through the channelling of resources) in the following areas:

• Organisational (when the company becomes more efficient both operationally and when facing innovative challenges);
• Individual (when the person feels responsible or in control of their own existence and focuses on personal growth).

Regardless of the fact that empowerment can affect an organisation or an individual, it always starts with the assumption that everything and everyone possesses latent resources which can be developed: resources through which it is possible to improve and enhance their present condition.

As well as signifying the attribution of greater value to human resources, this concept also means an increase in energy levels, participation and vitality. If an individual is passive, pessimistic or reliant on others, they must regain power by identifying and exploiting their inner resources to the full.

In such a case, it is a question of self-empowerment, which brings motivation, mental energy and the self-confidence necessary to reach a true state of inner wellbeing. That state of wellbeing is able to influence a person’s performance and the subsequent results they can achieve.

In order for empowerment to guarantee real benefits, certain practical steps must be taken, so as to allow real improvements to be made within a relatively brief timescale; we will outline these essential phases below.

1 – Building a positive mindset

During this phase the person learns to see themselves as the central figure and author of their own destiny. They are no longer passive, but start to consider the work they have carried out (and more generally the events which happen to them) as a consequence of the decisions they have taken individually. Considering that all the choices they have made can be replaced by other options as they go along, the person has the opportunity to modify any aspect of their life at any time. In order to learn to view things in this way it is first necessary to draw up a list of one’s own opportunities, consider them one by one and then work out the true level of feasibility of each one.

2 – Consideration of personal desires

During this phase the main purpose is to find time to stop and organise your ideas as to what your true desires really are. The main obstacle however is the fact that, in most cases, the working routine takes up all an individual’s time and prevents them from considering their own needs. To avoid being crushed by the daily routine, it is therefore essential to find some time to reflect on what you really want: once your true desires are clear, you can work out how to achieve them.

3 – Division of objectives

Once you have worked out exactly what you desire and how this can be achieved, these aims need to be divided up into micro actions which can be carried out gradually in order to reach the established macro objective. This process will be carried out in stages, thereby enabling you to reach your ideal target.

4 – Identification and elimination of specific problems

Considering that the successful achievement of any objective is reliant on overcoming a variety of problems, during this phase the person focuses above all on the identification of those obstacles. After that, a targeted strategy can be formulated, which will allow the individual to overcome these hurdles.

5 – Identification and gaining of new resources

This phase (which is required above all when someone realises that they do not possess the skills or abilities to overcome certain obstacles) encourages them to gain new resources. These resources may be obtained through studying or by meeting new people and can be used by the individual to fulfil their desires.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith