Employee enablement is a critical part of any organization. However, empowering employees to do great work for their employer is just as important.
Employees need to feel empowered to decide how they want to work, what kind of work they want, and how much time they need. They also need a sense of ownership over their work, so they feel free to do what they think is best for the company.
Employee empowerment is essential for keeping employees engaged, and it’s becoming the mainstream practice of companies today.
Here is what it looks like and how it can promote organizational success.
What Is Employee Enablement?
Employee enablement is the process of creating an autonomous environment where company leaders encourage employees to take ownership of their work and careers. This practice also enables employees to develop a sense of self–awareness regarding their personal growth and development.
According to a Gallup survey, about half of the workforce isn’t entirely engaged in their work. This can seriously impact your bottom line because workers feel reduced to doing the minimum to keep their jobs.
However, organizations that embrace employee enablement achieve tremendous results by providing various opportunities for employee growth through training, mentoring, coaching and more.
Yet, it is also as much about creating a culture as it addresses issues with employees to understand better how each of them works best. That way, they can tailor their methods to those strengths and set up an environment encouraging workers to do their best.
The ABCs of Employee Enablement
Employee enablement is an important part of any successful business. It’s a way to ensure employees have the tools they need to succeed.
This practice can benefit employees and your company in plenty of ways. Here are the characteristics of what it looks like within the workplace.
Increased Employee Productivity
Employee enablement is fundamental to engagement and productivity because engaged employees are more likely to produce more output. Why?
Because when you’re engaged in your work, you’re immersed in it — meaning employees are more excited about their work, which leads to higher motivation.
An enabled employee sees everything right by diving in and solving problems in the best way for your team or company. Engaged employees are also less likely to get sick and call off work, allowing them to improve their performance and productivity overall.
A Collaborative Work Environment
Employee engagement also encourages collaboration between individuals from all levels of an organization — from management to entry-level employees. This kind of collaboration creates a culture where people want to work together. That’s because they know each other well enough to trust one another with tasks or projects as needed.
Therefore, there is no need for micromanagement by higher-ups because there’s a balance between conducting weekly team meetings and asking questions about any changes.
Professional Growth Opportunities
Employee enablers commit to the professional growth and development of their employees. They ensure all team members have the chance to learn new skills and take on new challenges. That means companies help their employees by offering training and education.
However, they must know employees’ individual learning capacities to find a preferred learning model that meets their needs.
Higher Retention Rates
Worker enablement also leads to happiness in the workplace because it creates an environment where everyone thrives. Employees need to do what it takes to get the job done — even when an obstacle is getting in the way.
Since this practice creates an environment where employees feel valued, companies will retain staff longer.
Work Performance Enhancement
Supporting employees for work performance enhancement means setting them up for success. Companies achieve this by educating their team about what they expect from them. They also ensure they provide incentives for employees to complete their tasks, so they feel encouraged to do better.
An effective enablement program will also help organizations avoid costly mistakes, such as replacing former employees who weren’t satisfied with their jobs. It keeps things moving along as they should.
How To Implement It Successfully
Companies can implement the practice of encouragement successfully by understanding the four key concepts below:
1. Secure Knowledge of the Company’s Goals and Visions
Knowledge of the company’s goals and visions is essential to successfully implementing employee enablement. Doing so helps managers determine specific areas they should focus on and whether they align with the current organizational objectives.
Once you have identified which areas need improvement, company leaders must allocate resources. This may include hiring additional staff members within those departments and sending more money on training programs or technology upgrades.
2. Create a Culture of Empowerment, Value and Respect
To help employees feel engaged, your company must create a culture of support and empowerment.
Employees need to know their team leaders value and respect them as individuals. This can mean considering employees’ ideas and improving strategies with their feedback. It can also involve recognition and rewarding employees for their contributions.
By creating a culture of respect, employees will feel motivated to put forth their best efforts.
3. Access to an Expert Resource If a Problem Arises
It’s crucial for employees to know there are resources available for them when they need them most. That way, they know how to reach out for help if an issue occurs.
Managers can achieve this through various methods. One way may be to create a formalized employee resource group that provides a centralized location for workers to access when they have questions.
Another technique could be as simple as identifying the best leader, ensuring employees know who to reach out to for help whenever necessary.
4. Provide Tools and Resources to Help Employees Achieve Company Goals
Providing employees with tools and resources is key to successfully implementing enablement and achieving company goals. Whether new hires or seasoned veterans, every employee needs access to resources like training materials, ongoing development opportunities or mentorship programs.
By giving employees access to these, you can inspire them to grow as individuals and professionals.
Empower Employees Through Enablement Culture
Employee enablement isn’t something you can buy. It’s a mindset, and it’s something you must cultivate over time. By investing your time and resources into it, you’ll be able to attract top talent that will bring value to your company’s bottom line and lead it into a prosperous future.
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