Organizations are fond of saying they value empowered employees. Actions, however, remain louder than words.
Here are 3 signs that empowerment may remain artificial in your culture:
- When leaders say they trust employees to make decisions, but then sanitize, screen and limit the options from which an employee can choose.
- When leaders tout transparency as a value, then insist channels of communication in and out of their business/function run through them.
- When leaders state an appreciation for all employees, then allow into their inner circle of power sharing only those who are loyal to their agenda.
The relationship between power and control is worth examining.
Consider asking your colleagues: Can a leader effectively empower employees while insisting on control? (And what is it leaders are trying to control?)
P.S. Organizations succeed faster when power flows to ideas rather than people.