The Power of Empowered Teams and Why it is Crucial for Your Success
Empowered teams are often found in the most successful companies, and it is their ability to produce at high levels that sets them apart.
Empowerment is a word that has been used in business for decades. It is a management technique that has been used to give employees more autonomy and control over their working environment.
It is the process of providing people with the authority, opportunity, and skills to reach their full potential as individuals and as contributors to a team. It is about giving people the skills they need to be successful in their careers and lives, including decision-making skills, problem-solving skills, leadership skills and conflict resolution skills.
Yet in many workplaces, the reality is, empowering employees is selective and as a concept struggles in top-down management structures.
In the modern workplace, where individuals are expected to work in teams to collaborate, share information, and innovate, empowering teams, not just individuals, is the difference between success and mediocrity.
Why We Need More Empowered Teams
The empowered team is one that has a sense of ownership over its work, has a sense of belonging and is not afraid to take risks.
Empowered teams are high performing teams that have more trust in one another. They are more collaborative than other teams because they know that they can rely on each other. These types of teams are more likely to have higher morale because they feel like they belong to something bigger.
Empowered teams feel they have the skills and tools to do their work well, and have the opportunity to learn and grow. Members report higher engagement, a more positive work environment, enjoy their jobs more and feel more respected and included.
Conductor’s data shows that empowered teams perform up to 4x better than less empowered teams in their organisation and experience as much as 60% lower staff turnover. Our data also shows that empowered teams have better team dynamics, feel more supported and report significantly higher satisfaction in their leaders.
What are the characteristics of an empowered team?
1. They are aware of their goals and have clarity on their teams objectives.
2. They trust one another as they work together without fear or favouritism to get things done.
3. They recognise that their success is dependent on everyone in their group, building a culture of inclusion and accountability where all team members contribute as peers rather than subordinates.
4. They value diversity, curiosity, and continuous learning. They aren’t afraid to make mistakes and recognise experiences are just as valuable as expertise.
Empowering leaders is just as important
When team members are empowered, they are given the opportunity to make decisions and exercise their skills. Empowering leaders is just as important. This means creating a culture where leaders can confidently allow their team members the freedom and responsibility needed for success without micromanaging or holding them back.
Demands on leaders often leads to a lack of confidence and trust required to support empowering team members. Today’s Leaders need a modern leadership approach that is human-centric and performance-oriented.
For leaders, the first step is knowing where to start and recognising that empowerment is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. The ability to assess how your team functions and the support they need from you as a leader is critical.
The second step is to provide the necessary tools and resources they need to succeed. You should also be aware of their strengths and weaknesses and what motivates them.
The final step is to ensure you set an example for your team. Make sure they know you trust them and have faith in them. Ensure they have clarity on objectives and their roles and provide a safe space and opportunity to learn, grow and develop their skills.
Empowered teams and leaders are critical to achieving high performance, and crucial for business success. From better decisions to improved accountability and consistency, through to reduced turnover, happier clients and healthier bottom-lines. Can your organisation afford not to empower your teams?
“Success is influenced by those who inspire us to dream bigger, be better and achieve more. Imagine the possibilities if every leader could inspire and empower great teams.”
