Want more productive employees? Empower them
Team members who feel more valued will perform better, a new study says.
Looking to empower employees in your veterinary practice? A new study from the University of Iowa confirms that workers who feel empowered by their employers have higher morale and are more productive, regardless of their industry, job, or even the workplace culture. The study shows that when done properly, empowerment initiatives can lead to higher job satisfaction, lower turnover and reduced stress among employees. Empowered workers also are more innovative and perform better at their jobs.
Try to incorporate the following characteristics of an effective empowerment initiative at your practice:
> High-performance policies: Managers share information, decentralize authority, involve employees in decision-making, provide training opportunities and pay well. High-performance management makes employees feel a strong part of their organization and that they matter to the company’s success.
> Socio-political support: Managers make their employees feel like a valued part of the organization and encourage employees to recognize each other’s importance.
> Leadership: A manager who inspires, provides strong feedback, and is a good role model enhances workers’ feelings of competence and helps employees find meaning in their work.
> Work design characteristics: Managers encourage training and provide individuals with challenging work assignments.
The study, “Antecedents and Consequences of Psychological and Team Empowerment in Organizations: A Meta-analtyic Review,” will be published in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology.
