Inclusion is the key to Empowerment

By Rusty Holman, M.D., Founder, 1821Health
“A leader is great not because of his or her power, but because of his or her ability to empower others.” – John C. Maxwell, American author, speaker, and pastor
In healthcare organizations, there is a common sentiment that effective leaders must empower others. Empowerment is defined as the granting of the power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties. Empowerment may also involve giving an ability to someone else on the team. Doing so can improve organizational performance, boost employee engagement and increase staff retention.
However, the desire to empower seldom leads to meaningful empowerment. The reason is simple: How can the workforce be empowered if they do not possess the knowledge, skills or awareness to be part of contributing to organizational goals?
True empowerment must start with an inclusive culture – one that invites everyone to build leadership capabilities and take active ownership within the organization. Unfortunately, most organizations exclude the vast majority of the workforce and only invest in developing those who already have formal leadership positions – inviting them to management retreats, training workshops, leadership conferences, and company-subsidized certification programs. It sends a very clear signal to everyone else in the organization: these are the chosen few that we value. Traditional leadership programs are not designed to give power to those on the front line, who happen to be the ones closest to the work itself.
Why excluding the workforce from leadership development handicaps empowerment efforts:
Lack of autonomy. The centralized nature of strategic planning, decision-making, budgeting and resource allocation creates momentum for everyone else in the organization to be task-oriented in fixed, narrow roles. The loss of control is cited as a leading contributor to workforce burnout.
Constricted options. Fewer people with leadership skills means fewer vocalized ideas, missing the creative input of others to change the entrenched systems in which they work.
Unpreparedness. The lack of an aware, informed and trained workforce makes many enterprise initiatives unnecessarily complicated, slow and less effective.
Disproportionate burden. Unfair expectations are placed squarely on the “leader” to make decisions alone and take personal responsibility for successful outcomes.
Therefore, leadership development must be made inclusive to all, emphasizing that everyone is valued, and each person’s contributions are necessary for organizational success. A commitment to inclusive leadership development spreads problem-solving capacity across the enterprise, boosts worker’s trust in the institution and harnesses the creativity of the entire workforce.
How to get started on inclusive leadership:
Establish an inclusive development plan. Get everyone on the same page by conducting regular, concise, practical leadership lessons and team discussions. Articulate how you will put into action the leadership skills that you’ve learned together.
Give control, no matter how small. Ask your team to identify an issue or process that is problematic. Together, identify one aspect where the group can exert power or authority to change. Then change it.
Recognize leadership behaviors. What leaders comment on sends a distinct signal about what’s important and how others should act. Publicly recognize those who constructively challenge the status quo and offer viable solutions to problems. Openly appreciate someone’s humility when they say, “I don’t know,” or “I need help.” Commend those who demonstrate respect towards others.
Imagine working in a place where everyone possesses a foundation of skills in effective communication, conflict resolution, and building a desired culture. How much more effective and agile would that organization be in problem-solving, improving broken systems and advancing change initiatives? To truly empower our workforce, we must first include them in leadership development and declare, “Everyone here is a leader, and we’re going to start treating you that way.”