Joe Hays has given what we consider one of the keys to culture change
in a company, a way for bosses to change their people. He said -
> I have participated in numerous exchanges on empowerment on the learning
> organization network. There was a flurry back in March and April, I
> believe, and a lot of interesting ideas were bantered about. I don't
> recall anything particular on training and education, though there were
> discussions around BECOMING empowered and whether or not one can EMPOWER
> another.
> snip
> I prefer real-time, real-life experiential stuff. It is much more potent,
> relevant, and meaningful. But requires some degree of courage and
> flexibility, for both facilitators and participants. Many students and
> seminar attendants have expressed their appreciation for "round-table"
> discussions: where each individual presents his or her experience around
> an issue. Each presentation provides the material for exchange and
> deliberation. Everyone makes suggestions, which are critically considered
> and modified. Participants learn from one another, which makes the
> presenter's job easier in some respects, and definitely fosters a sense of
> EMPOWERMENT among them: they witness their own and each other's
> competence in problem solving and experience responsibility for and
> ownership of the task, which, essentially, is what empowerment is all
> about. You may hint at this toward the end of the session, if it's not
> obvious that they "get the point."
We recommend that bosses conduct regular group meetings with 40 or so of
their people in order to take their complaints, suggestions and questions.
Getting input from one person, the boss then asks others how they see the
same issue and then moves on to getting everyone to decide on the right
solution or the answer to the question. This problem solving practice can
be further assisted by bringing up relevant values, asking people to check
the standards reflected in the problem and what a higher standard would
look like.
This process is equivalent to what Joe has provided and does give everyone
essential practice at taking charge and being empowered. Besides, it gives
the boss a chance to fix the problems which are holding back h/her people
and "leading" them in the wrong direction. This is also the most credible
ways a boss can prove that h/she "cares" about the people and thereby
cause them to show "care" for the work, the customers and each other.
Regards, Joan
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Joan Pomo The Finest Tools for Managing People
Simonton Associates Based on the book
jpomo@gate.net "How to Unleash the Power of People"
--"jpomo@gate.net" <jpomo@gate.net>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>