>Replying to Carol Whisnant's post, Pay and Play LO5100, who offered this
definition:
>
>>Empowerment is - You accepting accountability for your actions and
>>taking action on your accountabilities. Plain and simple.
To me, this is an excellent definition of RESPONSIBILITY.
I like much better what Dave Birren added:
>I'd like to offer another way of thinking about that, in the form of an
>equation: Empowerment = Freedom x Direction x Support. There is a
>multiplicative relationship among the determinants, and if any of them
>goes to zero, the result is zero.
I am assuming the 'Direction' is "guidance in a direction" rather than the
directive sort. But we run the risk now of entering a "do loop." Is
freedom given or taken? As with the earlier discussion, whether give or
take, there's an assumption we begin from an oppressive relationship. One
is in a position to give and another in a position to have to take. What
if there is no heirarchical relationship? Is empowerment even an issue
then?
-- Grand Weekend all, Ginger Shafer The Leadership Dimension "Bringing Leadership to Life" vshafer@azstarnet.com