{"id":540,"date":"2017-08-16T18:09:16","date_gmt":"2017-08-16T18:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danielvlopes238992071.wordpress.com\/2017\/08\/16\/dont-empower-anybody-the-biggest-misnomer-of-a-healthy-corporate-culture\/"},"modified":"2024-10-11T12:22:25","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T19:22:25","slug":"dont-empower-anybody-the-biggest-leadership-mistake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canopy.is\/blog\/2017\/08\/16\/dont-empower-anybody-the-biggest-leadership-mistake\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t \u201cempower\u201d anybody: The biggest leadership mistake you can make"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I hate the word, \u201cempowerment\u201d. It\u2019s often inhibits us from becoming a good leader.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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I hate the word \u201cempowerment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I never think I should \u201cempower\u201d anyone\u200a\u2014\u200aespecially our team, here at Canopy<\/a>. It’s often a leadership mistake, in my mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? The definition<\/a> of the word \u201cempower\u201d is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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to give power to (someone); to make (someone) stronger and more confident.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The keywords here are \u201cgive\u201d and \u201cmake.\u201d Empowerment means you\u2019re transferring power to someone else. You think someone else needs<\/em> you\u200a\u2014\u200ayour permission, your influence, your talents\u200a\u2014\u200ato do something. And I don\u2019t ever believe that\u2019s the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our employees don\u2019t need me to do anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to motivation, everything people need they already have inside them. Each person has something unique, special and important to offer the world. And as a leader, it\u2019s my job to merely create the best environment that allows them to come into that themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As Frederick Herzberg, a well-known American psychologist, once wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s the job of the manager not to light the fire of motivation, but to create an environment to let each person\u2019s personal spark of motivation blaze.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Instead of thinking about how you can empower people, here\u2019s what you should consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I get out of our employees\u2019 way?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I better understand what our employees really want?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I make it clear why what they do matters?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I uncover what makes meaningful, interesting work for that person?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I illustrate what \u201cgood enough\u201d looks like?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I show what trade-offs we value as a company?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I consistently treat each person with respect, patience, and kindness?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I seek out dissenting viewpoints, and be open to new ideas?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I be clear and inclusive about the <\/em>vision<\/em><\/a> we\u2019re all working toward?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I create opportunities for connection and a sense of belonging at our company?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to empower anybody. Don’t succumb to this leadership mistake. Focus on creating an environment for people to be their best selves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udd25 Ready to create an environment for people to be their best selves? <\/strong>For a deeper dive, be sure to check out our \u201cFoundations of Leadership<\/a>\u201d module in Canopy. The first few lessons are free \u2013 as are hundreds of daily tips. Try\u00a0Canopy<\/a><\/em>\u00a0for free, yourself, today.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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