Are You Delegating or Empowering?

Apr 17, 2023

5 Key Benefits to Empowering Your Employees

As a leader, delegating and empowering are two important skills that can help you build a strong and effective team. While these two concepts may seem similar at first glance, they actually represent two different approaches to leadership.

Delegating involves assigning tasks and responsibilities to your team members, while retaining ultimate control over the decision-making process. This can be useful in situations where you need to maintain a high level of oversight and control, or where you have a team member who is new or inexperienced in a particular area.

Empowering, on the other hand, involves giving your team members the autonomy and authority to make decisions and take action on their own. This can be particularly effective in situations where you have a team member who is experienced and capable, or where you want to foster a sense of ownership and engagement among your team.

Key Factors to Consider When Distinguishing Between Delegating and Empowering

Both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, and the best approach will depend on the specific situation you are facing as a leader. Some key factors to consider when deciding whether to delegate or empower include:

  • Consider the complexity of the task or project. If the task or project is particularly complex or requires a high degree of oversight, delegating may be the best approach. On the other hand, if the task is relatively simple or straightforward, empowering your team members may be more effective.
  • Consider the experience and capabilities of your team members. If you have team members who are experienced and capable, empowering them may be the best way to leverage their skills and expertise. On the other hand, if you have team members who are new or inexperienced, delegating may be more appropriate.
  • Consider the level of trust and collaboration within your team. If you have a strong sense of trust and collaboration within your team, empowering your team members may be more effective. On the other hand, if there are issues with trust or collaboration, delegating may be necessary to maintain control and oversight.

Both delegating and empowering are important skills for any leader to have. By understanding when and how to use each approach, you can build a strong and effective team that is capable of achieving your goals and objectives. While both approaches are important in an organization, leadership that empowers employees is essential for creating a positive and productive work environment.

5 Key Benefits to Empowering Your Employees

Empowering employees is an essential aspect of effective leadership. When leaders empower their employees, they create an environment where individuals are encouraged to take ownership of their work, develop new skills, and contribute to the success of the organization. 

Here are some of the key benefits of leadership that empowers employees:

  1. Increased Motivation: Empowering employees can be a powerful motivator. When employees feel trusted and respected, they are more likely to be engaged and committed to their work. Empowerment can also help to increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover.
  2. Improved Creativity: Empowered employees are more likely to take risks and think outside the box. When individuals feel that their ideas are valued and supported, they are more likely to be creative and innovative. This can lead to new products, processes, and ideas that can help to improve the organization.
  3. Better Decision Making: Empowering employees can also lead to better decision making. When individuals are given the autonomy to make decisions, they are more likely to take responsibility for the outcomes of those decisions. This can lead to more thoughtful and informed decision making, which can ultimately benefit the organization.
  4. Increased Productivity: Empowering employees can also lead to increased productivity. When employees feel that they have the autonomy and resources they need to get their work done, they are more likely to be efficient and effective. This can help to improve the quality of work and increase output.
  5. Stronger Teams: Empowering employees can also help to build stronger teams. When individuals feel supported and encouraged, they are more likely to collaborate and communicate effectively. This can lead to a more cohesive team that is capable of achieving its goals and objectives.

By empowering employees, leaders can increase motivation, improve creativity, facilitate better decision making, increase productivity, and build stronger teams. Ultimately, this can help to improve the success and sustainability of the organization. When it comes to delegation and empowerment, what kind of leader are you?

Delegation is an important tool for ensuring team members are motivated and contributing to the organization. Empowerment is crucial for employees to grow their skills and confidence, showcase their creativity, and feed their passion. Empowerment creates a positive culture in an organization. 

Whether delegating or empowering, every person or team in an organization must be set up for success. Training, coaching and mentoring them to the point of confidence and competency is critical.

How Can You Empower Your Staff and Develop a Successful Workplace Culture?

EDGES™ has 21 years of experience growing companies in partnership with the organization’s leadership team members by building on their strengths and maximizing their potential. Edges™ works with organizations to establish connectivity with your entire team by learning about each other and developing techniques for problem-solving, collaboration, and empowerment. 

Inter Face Methods™ is a tool to enhance communications with anyone in your network. Individuals learn to better communicate with and influence others. When using the tool with others, it improves our ability to connect and collaborate. Inter Face Methods Learning eXcelerator™ provides a quick, easy compelling experience to enhance inclusion, collaboration, influence, and productivity.  It offers participants the ability to learn about each other’s communication methods while teaching strategies to adapt, influence, and include. The result is team connectivity that builds the ability to solve problems together and increase productivity.  Inclusion is enhanced when everyone on the team is able to hear each other’s voices, build communication skills, increase retention, and build more collaborative solutions.

Founded in 2001 as a Leadership Development Company, EDGES™ has evolved to be a resource for growing companies to help their Leaders grow their people, plan collaboratively and ensure process efficiency. EDGES™ ultimate goal is to provide individuals and organizations the tools needed to create a workplace environment rich in adaptation, connection, and alignment. We believe your team should be better as a result of working with us. If you are ready to empower your employees and strengthen the culture in your organization or would like more information about the Inter Face Method™ tool, go to interfacemethods.com.