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August 2003 New Perceptions Success Letter By Kate Ripp Success strategies to support you in your professional and personal growth. Please feel free to forward this newsletter in its entirety to colleagues and friends. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ August, 2003 E-mail: kateripp@ktrconsulting.com Web Site: http://www.ktrconsulting.com Using Your Power to Empower The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. ~ Theodore Roosevelt The Law of Empowerment according to John Maxwell states that only secure leaders give power to others. Long-established thinking promotes the antiquated idea that power means the more I have, the less you have. People with this view rigidly hold on to their perceived power and are hesitant to share it with others. Successful leaders know that when they and their people are willing to be influenced by one another, everyones level of influence increases. When leaders share power with others, theyre demonstrating trust in and respect for others abilities. People who feel capable of influencing their leaders are more attached to those leaders and will more effectively carry out their responsibilities. True leaders recognize and act on the paradox of power: we become most powerful when we give our power away. The truth is, we dont get our power from our title or education, we get it from the people we lead. Exemplary leaders understand the importance of making their people feel strong, capable and effective. People who feel powerless tend to stockpile whatever shreds of power they have. Powerless managers tend to adopt narrow-minded and dictatorial styles. Its in these systems that political skills become essential and CYA becomes the preferred mode of handling differences. Common reasons why leaders violate the Law of Empowerment: Desire for job security: A weak leader fears becoming dispensable if he/she develops subordinates. The paradox is that if you continually empower others by helping them develop to their maximum potential, you will become so valuable to the organization that you become indispensable. Resistance to change: Change is the price of progress. The very nature of empowerment brings constant change because it encourages people to grow and innovate. Buck Rogers says, To those who have confidence in themselves, change is a stimulus because they believe one person can make a difference and influence what goes on around them. These people are the doers and motivators. Lack of self-worth. Many people gain esteem from their work or position. Threaten to change either of these and you will threaten self-worth. When people are driven by their ego rather than by a healthy sense of self-esteem, they have a need to feel important which is fueled by a need to be perceived as important. Successful leaders find the best people, build them up, give them resources, authority and responsibility and then turn them loose to achieve. Weak leaders often undermine their best people because of their own insecurity. Peoples capacity to achieve is determined by the leaders ability to empower. Only empowered people reach their full potential. Leaders strengthen others when they give their power away to them, making it possible for people to exercise choice and discretion. They develop in others the competence and confidence to act and to excel, to foster the accountability and responsibility that compels action. The truth is that empowerment is powerful for the people you develop and for yourself. Expanding others expands you. Copyright 2003 by Kate Ripp. All rights reserved. .. Goal Groups Starting in September A goal is your own proclamation of what you want, what you plan to focus on and what you intend to achieve. The keys to achievement are focus and direction, evidence that you are on the right track, motivation, accountability and support. If you would like to be part of a group led by a professional coach who is trained in assisting people to achieve goals, coupled with members who are all there to get you into action, this group may be for you. These groups are conducted by telephone conference call the first three Tuesdays of each month, September through December. FEE: 0/month. Full commitment required and payment up front. To find out more, contact me at kateripp@ktrconsulting.com or call 303-697-5914. Kate Ripp offers business and personal coaching to entrepreneurs, small business owners and professionals. She is a high-energy coach with twenty years of corporate management experience and hands-on knowledge in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, operations, sales, and customer service. She coaches one-on-one, in groups, and delivers workshops to improve communication, reduce conflict and foster teamwork in the business environment. Kate is a graduate of Coach University and a member of the International Coach Federation. She can be reached at 303-697-5914 or kateripp@ktrconsulting.com . Visit her web-site at www.ktrconsulting.com |
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