It's amazing how many managers feel that they just cannot be absent from their workplace because they are 'irreplaceable'. By empowering their employees, much more is possible...
It must be very wearing for managers to feel that they just cannot absent themselves, when they are missing people in place who can do a great job in their absence.
Empowerment - A Management 'Must-Have'
You see, most managers come from the 'shop-floor' and find it difficult to let go of that role.
When they try to take a step upwards into a full management role, it makes them feel uncomfortable - as if they are not working 'hard enough'.
So they find it hard to not do the whole job, despite having people around them who would willingly do a bit more.
Without Empowerment Employees Will Do Less
Some employees enjoy being able to say, "call back on Monday", or "I can't make that decision, you need to speak with the manager".
That's because it postpones a decision to make the customer satisfied at the moment, and may involve more work on the employee's part, thinking out a solution or a discount maybe.
Why be dealing with an unruly, dissatisfied customer, when they could be doing something less stressful with their time?
Only The Manager Is Responsible
It's easy for a manager to let this happen.
They need to know that they will be far better in their own job when they give their people the ability to decide for themselves the actions to take.
Most decisions that are to be made, when the customer is in your face, demand immediate resolution.
Customers Love Employee Empowerment!
No customer likes to be told that 'the manager will be with you in a minute'. Often they will treat this as a 'put-off' designed to hold off a decision in their favor.
They believe that the manager is waiting in the back office, or that the employees have been trained to give this response, and therefore, it becomes an excuse for the employees to blame it on the manager, and the customer to blame it on the manager.
When a manager finds themself in this situation, he faces an irate customer and an employee who expects them to find in their favor, not the customers.
Strong Teams Make Managers Great
The truth is, a manager is only as good as the power they give their employees.
For example, if you let your employees know that you expect them to make a reasonable decision in your absence, let them know that they are the manager in control when you are gone.
You will stand behind the logical decisions they make, and then let them know what you might have done different, you are teaching them to become a manager.
You are giving yourself more freedom in the process, and mentoring them into becoming a manager.
With Empowerment Everyone's A Winner
One of the best management development skills is empowering my employees to make a decision, and satisfy the customer so I don't have to deal with an overly upset or irate customer due to the employees not being able to resolve an issue.
They get a sense of ownership, power, and self-taught initiative that they can never get from somebody dictating to them.
It's a truly exciting step to take when a manager decides to take a route to fully empower their people.
Any Manager Will Value Empowerment Skills
I have seen many staff turn around in attitude, teamwork, and cohesiveness, when they get a manager that believes in them, their decisions, and problem-solving with their peers.
For the manager, there is a sense of freedom, closely supplemented by a knowledge that they are developing their people - a wholesome fulfilling result for all. - 16069
It must be very wearing for managers to feel that they just cannot absent themselves, when they are missing people in place who can do a great job in their absence.
Empowerment - A Management 'Must-Have'
You see, most managers come from the 'shop-floor' and find it difficult to let go of that role.
When they try to take a step upwards into a full management role, it makes them feel uncomfortable - as if they are not working 'hard enough'.
So they find it hard to not do the whole job, despite having people around them who would willingly do a bit more.
Without Empowerment Employees Will Do Less
Some employees enjoy being able to say, "call back on Monday", or "I can't make that decision, you need to speak with the manager".
That's because it postpones a decision to make the customer satisfied at the moment, and may involve more work on the employee's part, thinking out a solution or a discount maybe.
Why be dealing with an unruly, dissatisfied customer, when they could be doing something less stressful with their time?
Only The Manager Is Responsible
It's easy for a manager to let this happen.
They need to know that they will be far better in their own job when they give their people the ability to decide for themselves the actions to take.
Most decisions that are to be made, when the customer is in your face, demand immediate resolution.
Customers Love Employee Empowerment!
No customer likes to be told that 'the manager will be with you in a minute'. Often they will treat this as a 'put-off' designed to hold off a decision in their favor.
They believe that the manager is waiting in the back office, or that the employees have been trained to give this response, and therefore, it becomes an excuse for the employees to blame it on the manager, and the customer to blame it on the manager.
When a manager finds themself in this situation, he faces an irate customer and an employee who expects them to find in their favor, not the customers.
Strong Teams Make Managers Great
The truth is, a manager is only as good as the power they give their employees.
For example, if you let your employees know that you expect them to make a reasonable decision in your absence, let them know that they are the manager in control when you are gone.
You will stand behind the logical decisions they make, and then let them know what you might have done different, you are teaching them to become a manager.
You are giving yourself more freedom in the process, and mentoring them into becoming a manager.
With Empowerment Everyone's A Winner
One of the best management development skills is empowering my employees to make a decision, and satisfy the customer so I don't have to deal with an overly upset or irate customer due to the employees not being able to resolve an issue.
They get a sense of ownership, power, and self-taught initiative that they can never get from somebody dictating to them.
It's a truly exciting step to take when a manager decides to take a route to fully empower their people.
Any Manager Will Value Empowerment Skills
I have seen many staff turn around in attitude, teamwork, and cohesiveness, when they get a manager that believes in them, their decisions, and problem-solving with their peers.
For the manager, there is a sense of freedom, closely supplemented by a knowledge that they are developing their people - a wholesome fulfilling result for all. - 16069
About the Author:
(c) 2008 Martin P Haworth, a business coach and 25 year time served manager, has written Super Successful Manager!, an easy to use, week-by-week development program for managers of ANY capability. You can get a sample lesson for free at http://www.SuperSuccessfulManager.com.
