Why Empowering Employees Doesn't Work...and What REALLY Does

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What popular leadership buzzword(s) comes to your mind?  

For me, it’s empowerment.

Empowerment defined is the power given to someone. This notion of giving away power sounds great. Who wouldn’t want it if they’re a leader? But here’s the problem with empowerment: you can lose it as quickly as it was given.


There was a myth that Nordstrom had a one page policy guide. On its one page it said, “Use good judgment at all times.” That sounds awesome! True empowerment. Here’s the reality. Nordstrom’s real policy guide is 7,344 words long. So much for empowerment.

So if empowerment isn’t the solution, what is? Ownership.

As a leader, I prefer ownership over empowerment. Why? Empowerment is conditional and on loan. Ownership is self-driven and comes from within.

Wait. Ownership? What about accountability? That's another leadership buzzword. Isn’t accountability the leadership way?

Let me answer it with an illustration:

Have you ever stayed at an Airbnb? Even if you haven’t, you know what it is. It’s a home rental for vacation. If you’ve stayed there, did you read over the rules and expectations? Of course you did. Did you take the trash out, if requested? Of course. Did you check out on time? Of course. Otherwise you’d pay an additional fee or another day’s stay. During your vacation, did you clean the unit? No. That’s not your job. Did you fix the toilet when it broke? No, it’s not your job and not your toilet.

Compare the Airbnb to your own home? Do you clean? I hope so. Of course you do. Do you fix the toilet? Of course. It’s yours. Do you update your home? Likely so. It’s yours. You own it.

Ownership trumps empowerment. Of course, you’ll still have empowerment. To have leaders, they must have influence.  They must have freedom to lead. 

Ownership trumps accountability. Of course, you still need accountability. What gets measured gets done. What gets rewarded gets repeated.

But for lasting results, you’ll want ownership in your leaders and staff. 

An ownership culture:
  • ·   Reminds the team they are essential to the organization and accomplishing its mission.
  • ·   Enforces their job description is the floor and not the ceiling.
  • ·   Energizes collaborative teamwork.
  • ·   Drives customer service to new levels.

Want a high performing team? Ownership is part of the answer.

How have you experienced empowerment vs ownership in your workplace? Did it work? Share your stories!

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