Empowerment: What it is and what it isn’t

Empowerment is:	Empowerment isn’t:
A way to involve people in decisions and actions A leadership skill built on human dynamics A shared goal and the support and direction needed to achieve it Delegating both responsibility and accountability	Dumping a project on someone An easy way to get something done Micro-management of the details of a project Giving someone freedom to act without accountability

 

Empowered people work together to accomplish common goals and objectives.

To maximize their potential, individuals and groups responsible for implementation deserve the following from the council:

Data	Implementers need timely, accurate and ongoing facts, which impact their work. Leaders need to keep communication frequent and informative. Both positive and negative data need to be shared openly.
Authority	Implementers are not abandoned to fend for themselves, but are authorized to follow through on the objective for which they are responsible. They are expected to develop an action plan, discuss their needs with council, and then proceed with implementation. An evaluation is expected upon completion of the task, as well as interim reports if the task is extensive.
Resources	The implementers themselves are a parish’s greatest resource. But most objectives take additional means. The council needs to assure that those responsible for a task have the needed resources, whether material, fiscal or personnel. If the undertaking is significant, the council should budget for it prior to start-up.
Competence	Empowering individuals or groups is not random. Council needs to assess the skills needed for a particular task, seeking those with the gifts to carry it out effectively. If some additional training is desirable, leaders should see to it that skill development is available.
Active Support	Clarity: Be able to give a clear picture of the task to be accomplished and the end result expected. Share how it is related to the parish mission. Commitment: Demonstrate enthusiasm for the project and get the energetic support and involvement of the implementers. Encouragement: Keep in touch with the implementers as activity progresses, not to supervise the project, but to offer encouragement and support Gratitude: Show appreciation for the efforts expended and the results of the activity, especially for the service rendered to the parish and its mission.
Disempowering Factors	Confusion in defining the nature and scope of the project Lack of trust between implementers and council Failures in communication and listening Politics, factions, conditions perceived as needless “red tape” Council structuring the project too tightly, solving it all ahead of time Insufficient resources, lack of skills Belief that the task is meaningless or won’t make a difference