Employee
Empowerment and
Involvement:
Interpersonal Intervention
Objectives
To clarify the definitions, significance,
obstacles and contents of empowerment and
involvement.
To understand differences between
empowerment and employee Involvement.
To start learning how to empower and involve
your employees/ get empowered and involved.
Empowerment
Introduction
What’s empowerment
“The extension of your wisdom and leadership.”
"empowerment" often refers loosely to processes for
giving subordinates (or workers generally) greater
discretion and resources: distributing control in order to
better serve both customers and the interests of
employing organizations
Empowerment in Chinese myth
Components
Workers
(motivated workers with the skill and desire to
take on additional responsibility)
Managers
(managers willing to share power and facilitate
employee development)
The bridge between the both
Introduction (cont.)
Why important (simplified version)
-- for you
-- for your peers and subordinates
-- for your company
-- (for Zoe)
Introduction (cont.)
Why important (professional version)
1. Organization structure
(flatter, respond quickly, teaming, flexibility)
2. Programs (TQM & Customer Services)
(greater participation, information oriented)
3.
Obstacles
-- from a perspective of managers
“ I don’t want to”
--- Why?
“I don’t like risks”
--- Why you think it is risky?
“I don’t know how”
--- some Tips (look at leadership training)
Obstacles
-- organizational improvement potential
Control and Commitment
Organizational Culture
Individual Acceptance
solutions (1)
-- Leadership training
“why not?!”
Your leadership model
1. Provide vision
2. Provide positive support and words of encouragement
3. Highlight exemplar behavior
4. Recognize incremental success
5. Share power based on individual needs and ability
Solutions (2)
-- Selection and Training
Selection
(willingness, decision-making,
responsibilities , internal motivation)
Training
(skills, knowledge, and most importantly,
employee commitment)
What workers can do?
Commitment
Self management
Communication with managers
Empower your boss and your company!
Bridge
Language
Attitudes
Trust
Corporate culture
Training
Clarified goals
Involvement
What is it?
Employee Involvement- a participative
style of management
Increase employee’s understanding
Utilize their talents
Enable them to influence decisions
Encourage their commitment
Managements Side
Sharing ideas and suggestions
Recognizing people’s contributions
Each idea is treated with respect, fairly
evaluated and striving to implement
every idea possible
Feedback and mentoring
All appropriately recognized
All levels
To employees
Carry out the goals that are implemented
Increases individual morale and motivation
Management
Clear purpose
Company
Strategic goal, satisfy customers, save money,
morale, quality, safety
Generate positive, impact on satisfaction with
supervision, work, and solidarity
Different types of EI
Indirect Involvement- A representative
acts on behalf of employees, for example
through collective bargaining or joint
consultation
Direct Involvement- employees are
involved in decisions about how they
work, for example through quality circles
or autonomous work groups.
Models
Tannenbaum and Schmidt: Continuum
Tell- The supervisor makes the decision and
announces it to the staff. The supervisor provides
complete direction
Sell- The supervisor makes the decision and then
attempts to gain commitment from staff by “selling”
the positive aspects of the decision
Consult- The supervisor invites input into a decision
while retaining authority to make the final decision
her/his self
Join- The supervisor invites employees to make the
decision with the supervisor. The supervisor
considers her voice equal in the decision process
When EI goes wrong
Lack of comprehensiveness and intensity
Program implemented haphazardly
Unclear goals
Little commitment from employees and
managers
Delta Airlines
Has one of the most advanced, high level
employee involvement programs
Delta before employee involvement
Delta after employee involvement
Ford Co.
Ford Motor Co. Employee Empowerment
Connection to Heroz and
Champy
Heroz- Employee’s point of view of how
to handle employee involvement and
empowerment
Champy- Managers point of view on how
to implement employee involvement and
empowerment
Examples: