Empowering People in the Workplace

The purpose of this paper is to create a concept analysis and identify a nursing concept that is within a nursing theory. A concept analysis is a process where concepts and their characteristics are researched and clarified. The eight steps on conducting a concept analysis include selection of a concept used in a nursing theory, identification of the aims or purposes of the analysis, identification of possible use of the selected concept, determination of defining attributes, identification of model cases, identification of antecedents and consequences, and lastly definition of empirical referents (Walker & Avant, 2011). The nursing concept selected for this paper is “empowerment” within the nursing profession. The nursing theory from which the empowerment concept was obtained is Kanter’s Theory on Structural Empowerment. In order to empower someone, an individual needs the tools and resources to feel powered. According to Laschinger, Gilbert, Smith, & Leslie (2010), Kanter defines power as the ability to mobilize information, resources and support to get things done in an organization. The role of management is to provide employees with power tools that empower them to maximize their ability to accomplish their work in a meaningful way. Kanter goes on to describe two primary empowerment structures in organizations, first being the structure of opportunity and second the structure of power. The structure of opportunity relates to job conditions that provide

Empowerment is a concept we all have heard at one time or another it is utilized in numerous professions and specialties. Analysis of this concept will further understanding of empowerment for nursing professionals in areas from research, theory development or practice. Exploring the attributes, consequences, implications and model cases of empowerment can assist the nursing professional in utilizing empowerment to its fullest potential. Within the scope of nursing, empowerment can be seen not purely as how it relates to the client, or the nurse but also how it relates to both the client and the nurse (Rodwell 1996). The Walker-Avant method was used to analyze this concept, as it was the most commonly seen in nursing literature (McEwen &

In many ways, empowerment embodies principles effective managers and leaders have practiced for years. Two new driving forces in business, increased diversity and high-speed change, magnify the need for empowerment. Empowering people is now indispensable for effective personal productivity and maximum team success.

Employee empowerment is defined as giving employees a degree of autonomy and responsibility for decision-making. The benefits are

Empowerment is when individuals are given greater control over decisions and actions that will affect their health. Empowerment is important when working in partnership within health and social care settings, as it can allow honest relationships to develop between service users and

The single most important component associated with managing a successful organization, entails the empowerment of employees. People that are empowered are able to make smart decisions without always having to rely on authority, to point them in the right direction. Creating an empowered organization involves interest in the workplace; minimal absence from work, high retention rates; loyal and motivated team members; as well as efficient results and effective communication amongst team members. In the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Empowerment is a process that increases organizational power by including team working, sharing and solidarity. This relationship is based on trust which is considered as an output of empowerment. Empowerment deals with employees’ cognitive growth which enables them to control their fundamental behaviour towards their work environment. Implementation of empowerment is a holistic reorganization of the way a business thinks and does things (Page,

Human service organizations have central reasons to be focused on their work force empowerment. The profession of social work is developed on the beliefs of empowerment. Also, a parallel process can occur while cultivating client and staff empowerment. When organizations have expectations that staff must provide client services in an empowering manner that may be conditional for the worker on whether they experience an empowering work site.

Structural empowerment Purdy et al. state “is the notion that removes conditions that foster dependence and powerlessness within an organization that will result in a positive employee behavior and improve performance” (Effects of work environments on nurse and patient outcomes) which would cause a better working environment to work in. That being said I agree that being able to feel as you have power as a nurse to be able to be able to say things and control a little of how you work makes a nurse feel great about themselves as if they don’t just have to watch and write down all that the patient does or what the doctor say, it is like they actually have a voice in the matter. “Psychological empowerment is defined as the psychological state employees must experience for empowering interventions to be successful” (Smith Lesley, Andrusyszyn and Laschinger Effects of workplace incivility and empowerment on newly graduated nurses_ organizational commitment). I would have to agree because if you have a good mind set about things even if it the worst thing in the world it will not seem like it is. Having a good mind set conquers all things. Smith et al. say that “the empowering interventions are as followed meaning, confidence, autonomy and impact” (Smith, Andrusyszyn and Laschinger Effects of workplace incivility and empowerment on newly graduated nurses_ organizational commitment). It is so true the mind if you really think of it is made up of these things, and these are the things that get most people through the day. For example having confidence in your work will make you feel as if you can do anything at work as long as it is legal and you are able to do. I would say that they are on to something and that something would be that if you have empowering employees the nurses work environment would not be so difficult to do with and there would be a more nurses willing to work and the work environment would become like home

In many companies, operational employees also need information to handle tasks and make decisions that were assigned to supervisors. This trend, called empowerment, gives employees more

Empowerment and delegation are differentiated in the way that a supervisor must be empowering in relationships with employees by delegating properly to the fullest extent of his or her capabilities. Empowerment is no more than that old standby delegation.

Empowerment is an issue that is imperative to the change process. We touched on the idea of empowerment while exploring power, and politics in the workplace. Empowerment is important in regards to The Heart Of

Empowerment addresses the power inequality inherent in subordination. Food and Beverage manager Michelle Cook is above Executive chef Ritchie Gravy in formal authority but she is subordinate because Ritchie is in a relational position of power over her. Empowerment, therefore, concerns releasing the shackles placed on floor staffs by kitchen staffs who have power in Café Hip. In this case, as management is empowering the

Empowerment is the best way to promote a good long-lasting employee-customer relationship (Fragoso, 1999). Empowerment can also bring certain benefits to employees of an organization. It makes the employees give more input to company improvements; it promotes higher productivity, and is a good balance between their personal and professional lives. It exercises employees’ minds to find better solutions to problems on the job and increases the employees’ potential for promotions and job satisfaction. It results in personal growth, feelings of confidence and control in themselves and their companies. It makes workers utilize their potentials and it enables them to stand behind their decisions, assume risks, participate and take actions. It is a win-win-win situation: customers benefit from employees, organization benefit from the employees and the customers, and employees benefit from higher confidence and self-esteem (Fragoso, 1999).

Empowerment goes beyond delegation by enabling individuals and teams to achieve results critical in today’s competitive markets where speed, response and customer satisfaction are the standard. Empowerment is a tool used by leadership to allow a team or an individual freedom and creativity to achieve operative or strategic goals. Final results or milestones are the measurements used to gauge success and the manager’s trust is key when empowering staff. Nevertheless, empowerment emphasizes outcomes where delegation emphasizes compliance to procedure or policy. Looking at the slight differences I feel you can delegate simple daily tasks, but to reach your organizational goals you must empower your staff when you delegate. Empowerment is seen when the staff takes ownership of the delegated task (McConnell, 1995).