Empowering Employees Drives Productivity – an article about giving employees the chance to take ownership of their work in order to increase productivity.
There is a theory that empowering employees to take ownership of their work can significantly enhance productivity. The concept is supported by studies from institutions such as Harvard Business School, which highlight that high-performing teams who feel empowered experience lower staff turnover.
The concept of empowering employees is linked to making sure:
Psychological Safety: Team members feel safe to take risks and be vulnerable.
Dependability: Team members reliably complete tasks.
Structure and Clarity: Clear roles, plans, and goals.
Meaning: Work is personally important to team members.
Impact: Team members believe their work matters.
The Five Voices Framework
Which are you?
Nurturer (43%): Champion of people, relational harmony, and values. Present-oriented.
Creative (9%): Champion of future ideas, innovation, and organizational integrity. Future-oriented.
Guardian (30%): Champion of due diligence, resources, and efficient systems. Present-oriented.
Connector (11%): Champion of relational networks, collaboration, and effective communication. Future-oriented.
Pioneer (7%): Champion of strategic vision, results-focused, and problem-solving. Future-oriented.
Categorising team members into Nurturers, Creatives, Guardians, Connectors and Pioneers can be a useful exercise for determining the unique strengths everyone brings to the team. An away day to work it out could be a fantastic way to improve relations within the team as well!
5 Dysfunctions of a Team
These are the common pitfalls that can hinder team performance. The five are a lack of focus on results, accountability, commitments, conflict resolution, and trust. Addressing these dysfunctions is crucial for building a cohesive and effective team.
Listen to Everyone
To maximise team performance, it is essential to ensure that every voice is heard and valued, address conflicts timely, allocate time strategically, and maintain trust among team members.
Team Breakdown
When team performance breaks down, issues often arise in communication, relationships, alignment, execution, and capacity. Poor communication can lead to drama and inefficiency, while relationship problems can create a toxic environment. Misalignment results in wasted effort, and execution failures lead to unmet goals. Overload causes burnout and stagnation.
CEO Duties
From a CEO perspective, it is crucial to take time out of the business to look down into it and understand what is actually happening and what needs adjusting.
The Performance Flywheel
This is the concept of continuous momentum and energy within the team – keep it spinning and creating its own energy. Ensuring team members know their roles and have the necessary tools is vital. Communication and psychological safety are key to maintaining team cohesion and productivity.
Generational Differences
Generational elements also play a role in team dynamics. Different generations have unique communication styles and values, making it important to foster open communication and mutual respect across generations. Understanding these dynamics helps leaders take advantage of the strengths of each team member, which is the whole purpose of building your teams in the first place!
This article has been written by Mehak Gupta, our graduate trainee, after attending an webinar hosted by Help to Grow on the topic.
