Today, the term empowerment is used in all aspects of the healthcare system. Before we can empower patients, healthcare teams need to ensure their workplace cultures encourage education and a forum where learning and growth are nurtured.
In this week’s post, I would like to explore the word empowerment and what it means to today’s workforce.
The term empowerment refers to the activity of the leader to give power to others to enable them to control their destiny and protect their rights. Leaders must give the power to their subordinates in a way that they feel they have control over their destiny and therefore is the key to the road to a successful work environment.
Kanter, the most recognized theorist on structural empowerment, identified five components that must be present before participants of a workforce will be empowered. They include:
- Opportunity (growth, mobility, promotion, and recognition)
- Knowledgebase (opportunity to learn and grow)
- Necessary resources (having the tools and the staff to do the job safely and effectively)
- Information (data, monitoring of improvement and technical skill to do the job)
- Support (guidance and feedback from leaders, peers, and subordinates)
Kanter’s research has been found to demonstrate that by providing these conditions to employees, it has been shown that there is increased job satisfaction, commitment, trust and a marked decrease in job burnout.
So how is your work environment? Take time to see if you work in an empowered workplace! If not, take the time to collaborate with your team to change the culture of your workplace.
So how is your work environment? Take time to see if you work in an empowered workplace! If not, take the time to collaborate with your team to change the culture of your workplace.
Do you work in an empowered workplace? If so, share how this environment has improved the outcomes you and your team have produced. Make a comment in the comment box below or email me at allewellyn48@gmail.com and share information about your work environment. I will share comments in a future post.
Resource:
A new book just released by an expert in Medical Improv. If you are looking for a way to improve your organizations’ culture, communications and empower your teams to be the best they can be, check out Medical Improv a New Way to Improve Communications! The book explains the theory behind medical improve and also provides specific exercises you can include in staff meetings, in-services or other staff activities. Take advantage of the publication release discount. Click here to order your copy!
You may also want to check out the National Nurse Empowerment Institute, a national organization focused on empowering nurses to WIN. Click here to access the Nurse Empowerment Website. We also have a Facebook Page. Click here to access.
