Being
a part of a book called, The Empowered Woman: Purpose, Passion &
Possibilities, I get asked a lot about empowerment. Naturally, there are many answers and
questions that surely come with this word.
I always like to start with the (em) in power, the inner strength we all
possess. What I believe to be the
foundation of empowerment. As Alice
Walker has stated, “The most common way that people give up their power is by
thinking they don’t have any.” The basis
of power starts with the individual first.
We must acknowledge and learn how to leverage this inner power.
Since
we spend so much of our time at work, I also get asked how we empower at work. This can easily start with community building
and building an inclusive atmosphere and environment within the workplace. Here are four ways to do this at work:
- Involve others in the process
Making
decisions does not have to be a solo process; engage the community with clear
and concise goals.
- Confront the ego
The
ego grows smaller and smaller when you have the courage and practice of
confronting it head on.
- Invest time in others
Expanding
the positive elements of organizational culture involves sharing organizational
knowledge with newcomers at work. Choose
one person that you connect with organically and be a mentor.
- Practice mindfulness
Be
mindful of adding cultural elements that can have a positive impact on the
larger organization and/or communities within the organization such as starting
traditions like acknowledging birthdays and/or community lunches.
Keep
in mind that you have the inside track because you are a member of the
community so you know how others can benefit from such set traditions and other
cultural norms in your organization.
Leverage this knowledge to uplift yourself and others at the same
time. This is what empowerment is all
about.
