Empowering work relationships

Bret L. Simmons, Ph.D.www.bretlsimmons.comEmpowering Work RelationshipsArvato Digital Services

In the next hour…• Empowerment: the evidence• Work relationships: REALity

check• Applications• Questions

What is empowerment?

Why does it matter?

EmpowermentThe ability to make decisions and take

action

Empowerment: Outcomes

• Attitudes–Satisfaction–Commitment

• Behaviors–Performance–Innovation–Citizenship

Empowerment

Empowerment: Antecedents

Work environmentPerson

Empowerment:Positive Leadership

TrustAuthenticity

Support

Empowerment:Managerial Practices

TrainingRecognition

Participatory decision making

Empowerment:Support

Information sharingAccess to resources

Fairness

Empowerment:Work Characteristics

Interesting workVariety of tasks

Empowerment:Personality

Locus of controlSelf-efficacySelf-esteem

Emotional stability

Application #1 - Empowerment

1. Do you want to be more empowered?

2. List three things you can do in the next 30 days to improve your ability make decisions and take action.

What do you know about good work

relationships?

R.E.A.L. Work Relationships

REAL Relationships

• Interdependent partnerships–Autonomy–Support–Challenge –Promises

Responsibility

• Foundation of interdependence• Unless and until you assume full

responsibility for yourself, you force others to assume responsibility for you

• Performance– Master your current job– Continuously improve how that job is done

• Caring

Expectations

• Framework of interdependence • Know what’s expected of you• Share your expectations of others with

them• Make this a team activity• Promise to deliver

Accountability

• Binding strength of interdependence • Two principles

– Always starts with you: performance, caring, expectations, encourage and enable others

– When you look at others, look for solutions rather than blame

• Don’t look the other way when it matters

Learning

• Fulfillment of interdependence • Core performance technology• If you stop learning and growing, you

will increasingly become either a burden or a stranger to others at work

Application #2 – REAL Relationship

• Who is the most interdependent person you know at work? How does this person’s interdependence affect others at work?

• Are you dependent, independent, or interdependent in your work relationships? How does your style of relating affect others at work?

• Are you really learning and growing at work? Name one thing you are doing better now than 3 months ago.

Questions?

Bret L. Simmons, Ph.D.www.bretlsimmons.com

Empowering Work RelationshipsArvato Digital Services