The Best Leadership Secret Ever

Posted by Mick Kopp | May 24, 2008 .

People control themselves.  So find ways to empower them.

Leadership is tricky!  If you have a business or you’re in a leadership position somewhere, then you already know how hard it is to get someone to do what you want them to.  You try to convince them and give them all the reasons they should do what you ask.  But, most of the time they end up doing something entirely different, or even the opposite of what you wanted in the first place.  And if you make them do it, they will resent you for it, maybe even hate you.

Here’s the good news!  It doesn’t have to be like this.   To be a great leader, meaning a person people can get behind, you must let people lead themselves.  Everyone should be able to do that, and it doesn’t require hardly any effort.

Want some exciting new ideas? Want to have less problems?  How about just less complaining and more productivity?  Well, this is how you get it.  Help them to LOVE their jobs. People that love their jobs and respect their leaders will give all of the above and a lot more.  Empower Them!

That’s it. You can go now if you want.  Or, stay and check out some ways you can empower.

  1. Hire people that know more than you do.
  2. Don’t assume they know your policies and procedures. Train Them!
  3. Include them in what’s going on, even if it’s bad news. Most people want to help.
  4. Ask them what their ideas are and try to use them often.
  5. Let them do most of the talking.  Most will tell you everything you want to know if you are really listening.
  6. Don’t talk over them.
  7. Let them figure out their own problems.
  8. Train them some more.
  9. Leave them to their work.
  10. Let them know what’s expected and then expect their best.
  11. Put them in charge of what they are doing.
  12. No hand holding. If they can’t catch on within their training period,then let them go.
  13. Make yourself available to answer questions.
  14. Be approachable.
  15. Keep their personal problems to yourself.
  16. Keep your personal problems to yourself, even if they ask.
  17. Forgive failure, as long as you can.
  18. Give constant and genuine praise daily.
  19. Don’t criticise.  Let people judge their own work.
  20. Let them do their own job evaluation.
  21. Let them give you an evaluation. Brace yourself! This will open your eyes.
  22. Let them work in their own environment, if you can. If you can’t, try to keep yours fun, peaceful and pleasant.
  23. Let them fire each other!  You heard me right.  Make a group, not including you, that votes on whether or not someone should be given the boot. Peer pressure works wonders.
  24. Tell them how much you appreciate what they do.
  25. Let them vote on your company’s next big project.
  26. Let them do things their own way as long as it brings satisfactory results.
  27. Find a way for them to train themselves on an ongoing basis.
  28. Don’t have them report to you. You go to them.
  29. Let them conduct their own training meetings.
  30. Encourage their community service.
  31. Develop a profit sharing plan. Even if it’s small, you’ll empower them by developing a sense of ownership
  32. Open your books. Let them see what’s going on quarterly or yearly.
  33. Let them express themselves and their creativity. In doing so, they will become more innovative workers.
  34. Throw out the titles!  Instead, give everyone the title of partner, because that’s what they really are.
  35. Give them credit for all their great ideas that you use.
  36. Stop stealing their enthusiasm and passion.
  37. Buy them lunch or a card and tell them how valuable they are to you.
  38. Support and help them achieve their goals and dreams, even if they don’t pertain to your business.
  39. Be there to serve them in every way possible.
  40. Put them in control of your budget and give them bonuses according to how much money they can save you.

That’s just a few things you could do to empower your people.  Come up with your own. Just put yourself in their shoes.  If you think about them, before you think about yourself, you’ll never go wrong.

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think, or what works for you.


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  1. Success is not an Accident-Become a Leader October 14, 2008 10:44 pm

    [...] Uncage great people!   A great leader knows, that in order to attract and retain great people, you must empower them to do their own work.  Help them to help you by listening to their ideas.  Take some calculated risks with your people.  Include them in your plans.  Give them the tools they need, and then set them free.  Read more about empowerment here. [...]