Empowering Employees


Over 70% of organisations now use empowerment initiatives. This concept explores how and why companies apply them. Empowerment is a key driver of motivation, autonomy, and innovation. Edmondson (2018) and Parker (1998) show it thrives in safe cultures and well-designed roles.

Technique Overview

Empowering Employees

Empowering Employees Definition

Empowerment is based on organisational policies, practices and a culture that encourages and motivates employees at all levels to take responsibility and authority over their work (Appelbaum and Honeggar, 1998). It is also supported by psychological conditions such as trust, autonomy, and self-efficacy (Thomas and Velthouse, 1990; Luthans, 2002).

Empowering Employees Description *

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Business Evidence

Strengths, weaknesses and examples of Empowering Employees *

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Empowering Employees *

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Professional Tools

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Further Reading

Empowering Employees web and print resources *

Empowering Employees references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Appelbaum, S. and Honeggar, K. (1998) Empowerment: A Contrasting Overview of Organizations in General and Nursing in Particular - An examination of Organizational Factors, Managerial Behaviors, Job Design, and Structural Power. Empowerment in Organizations, Vol. 6(2), pp. 29-50.
  • Aryee, S. and Chen, Z.X. (2006) Leader-Member Exchange in a Chinese Context: Antecedents, the Mediating Role of Psychological Empowerment and Outcomes. Journal of Business Research, Vol. 59, pp. 793-801.
  • Barrutia, J., Charterina, J. and Gilsanz, A. (2009) Salesperson Empowerment in Spanish Banks: A Performance-Driven View. Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Vol. 14(1), pp. 40-55.
  • Edmondson, A. C. (2018) The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation and Growth. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. doi: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=54851

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