100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

(Ann) #1

150 • 100 GREAT BUSINESS IDEAS


Employees were trusted to use their initiative and to access a small
budget to ensure customers’ specifi c needs and preferences were
met. This provided a distinctive service and customer value at a
competitive price.


In practice



  • Understand what you mean by empowerment and what you
    want to achieve.

  • Identify barriers to empowerment and how they can be
    overcome.

  • Communicate your ideas and win support.

  • Establish and agree the boundaries, and be prepared to have
    these boundaries tested.

  • Ensure that your people have the necessary skills, resources, and
    attitudes to take control.

  • Agree objectives and performance measures. Empowerment is
    not about dumping work on people and leaving them: it requires
    support and agreement.

  • Provide support, monitor developments, and iron out any
    diffi culties, particularly in the early days, but make sure that you
    do not undermine the process.

  • Try to secure early “wins” and successes that highlight the value
    of the process.

Free download pdf