• Small But Effective Examples of Employee Empowerment

Often simple examples of empowerment can be found in giving employees a say in the areas that affect workplace policies and procedures.

Employee Suggestion Box – Some of the best ideas are generated from employee suggestion boxes that can lead to improve every aspect of the workplace. To generate continuous positive feelings of empowerment, good suggestions need to be implemented, recognized, and rewarded by management.

Flextime Policies – Creating a flextime policy based upon workers' inputspeaks loudly and directly to the issue of empowerment because an employee's time is no longer micromanaged. Setting one’s schedule is empowering because we don’t all operate at our peak performance between 9 to 5. Recognizing a person's work clock is different will also harness the employee's creativity.

Greater Control Over an Individual's Work Area – Working in an environment that is comfortable is important to overall job satisfaction. When employees have control over their individual workspace and can create their own comfort zones they feel empowered. Whenever feasible, employees should be provided with the ability to control the temperature and lightening in their individual work area and be consulted concerning climate conditions in areas shared with other co-workers.

Break Room Decor and Policies - For common areas such as the break room, giving employees the opportunity to choose the decor and set the policies regarding the use and upkeep instills in them another sense of ownership and pride in their workplace. Also it is another opportunity for employees to work together as team to make decisions that affect them personally when they are momentarily off the clock.

Casual Dress Code – Setting a casual dress code policy is a subtle but effective way to empower employees. Allowing employees to determine the style of dress to match the type of work they do everyday sends a powerful message of confidence. In analyzing the pros and cons of the casual dress code, make sure you determine that a dress code is appropriate for your organization and whether some broad guidelines are needed.

Every example of employment empowerment, no matter how great or small, can stimulate employees renewed interest in their workplace while increasing their awareness of how their individual contributions lead to the success of the organization. To effectively execute employee empowerment be sure to follow these seven principles of employee empowerment.

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