5 WAYS TO EMPOWER THOSE YOU LEAD

By Cliff Townsend www.tobepoorisacrime.com

 

 

Whatever our position in life we will inevitably be put in a position where we are required to lead,

Whether that position is as a parental leader, a scout leader, a manager or as a business owner or

Someone that others look to for guidance.

To be most effective in our role as a leader we must be able to empower those we lead

in order for them to be more effective and efficient in their position.

There are far too many people who are put in a position of leadership simply because they did good in the field,

However they lack the necessary skills to empower the people they lead.

                    Here are five ways to effectively empower those you lead be more efficient:

      Share the vision

      Paint the big picture for those that are a part of your team. Let them know that they are a part of something that is

Bigger than any one individual. Let them know that this is a team effort, and without them doing their part the vision can

Never be fulfilled. Sharing your vision will give your team something more meaningful to work towards, and more of a purpose

For the work that they do, regardless of how insignificant it may seem. With a vision everything has purpose.

Delegate important task

Most leaders find it hard to delegate important task, because they feel that if it is to be done right they have to do it themselves.

This is especially prevalent among new entrepreneurs. The fact is no one person can do everything. So it is sometimes better to

Delegate to others who can do the job at 90% instead of the job not getting done at all. Some would disagree, however in every

study that I have ever seen 90% done is always better than not done at all.

Whenever important task are delegated it empowers those who are given the task, because they feel a new level of trust and responsibility.

 

Play to their strength

 

Everyone that is on your team has a particular skill that they are best at. As a leader it is your job to find out what those skills are.

It is your job to uncover everyone’s special talent and delegate task that are in alignment with their strength.

Give them leadership responsibilities that are in alignment with their strengths. This is empowerment at its best. Your people know what they are good at, however now they have been recognized, and have been put in a position of leadership in the area that they are skilled at.

 

Be approachable.

 

When was the last time that you had lunch with your team? When was the last time that you asked them about their family,

And their personal life?

Do they feel that they can approach you if there ever was a problem.? Do they feel that you support them if they go out on a

Limb and mess up? Do they feel like you care beyond work?

Show them that you are approachable. Instead of an email reply, how about a phone call, or even a face to face. Have lunch with your team

And let them know how much they are appreciated. Empower them simply with your approachability and your presence.

 

Encourage their input

 

Have a mastermind meeting once a month with your team. Allow them to mastermind on ways things can be improved. Allow them

To share their opinion on what is not working and why. Empower them to be a part of the creative process. Let them know that their

voice is heard and it is an important one. Nothing empowers a person more than knowing that their opinion counts for something.

Even if their ideas are not implemented, knowing that their voices are heard is powerful. This tactic creates an ownership mentality.

They will feel as if they have ownership in the vision, and their level of involvement now becomes personal instead of taking it

as just another job.

When we develop these leadership characteristics and are able to pass these traits on to others, we are essentially creating future leaders.

 

Cliff Townsend

Entrepreneurial Coaching

Speaker/Author

www.tobepoorisacrime.com