Be it in professional or personal life, human-centered leadership is the need of the hour. It is a leadership style that focuses on other people’s needs and relies on empowerment. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, empowerment refers to the act of granting authority or rights for performing different duties.
Sometimes, it simply involves reminding others of their rights or power so that they can exercise them well. An interesting thing about empowerment is that it is linear and horizontal. In other words, when you empower others, you end up empowering yourself in the process.
How does that work, and what can you do to empower others radically? This article will discuss the power of human-centered leadership best displayed by empowering each other.
How Empowering Others Empowers Us
Have you ever had someone say two simple words, “Thank you” to you? They’re often enough to re-energize and empower you to help others more earnestly, right? Our words and actions hold much power and can create a life-giving cycle of positive energy and growth.
It is said for a reason that real power only lies in empowering others. This philosophy is followed by the greatest leaders who understand the importance of human-centered leadership. They believe in the ripple effect of simple but sincere words and actions.
Empowering others is all about motivating them and making them believe those words, “I can do it.” If you do this, it is no trivial matter. In some cases, it may be a subject of life and death. For instance, a friend may have decided to give up on their professional dreams due to recurring rejections.
Simply encouraging them to try one more time because they’re capable can stop that dream from dying. They may decide to give it another shot and build an empire. Watching positive changes in their life will automatically make you happy. It will convince you to choose perseverance over despondency during your difficult times.
Plus, the process of leading others by example will teach you some important life lessons. We may not be able to learn everything by personal experience. Sometimes, we remind others of positive truths that bear fruit in their lives. This affirms that such truths work and are worth holding onto. Seek out opportunities to empower others, and you will feel empowered.
4 Ways You Can Radically Empower Others
Now that we’ve explored how empowerment works let’s look at practical ways you can empower others:
Choose a Career Focused on Empowerment
The most straightforward way to empower yourself by empowering others is to choose a relevant career path. Companies are taking huge leaps to build a culture based on empowerment at all levels. For instance, McKinsey & Company reports how women have made significant workplace progress in the past few years.
Businesses are even extending critical support to employees taking care of aging parents or facing mental health challenges. If you’re already working, look for ways to empower others by delegating responsibilities, setting clear expectations, and offering growth opportunities.
If you wish to empower communities through your profession, consider walking the route of social work. It is one career path that is all about empowering others by challenging established systems, encouraging collaboration, and building awareness. To do this, you need to start with a bachelor’s degree in the field.
After that, you must complete fieldwork, which would require up to 3,000 supervised clinical hours. To practice independently or privately, it’s best to pursue a Master in Social Work (MSW) course. The process can be accelerated by taking up an advanced-standing MSW online program.
It will qualify you to play managerial roles as well as participate in policy changes. You get to work on issues like women empowerment, racism, sexism, or child development. Advocating for change and addressing systemic inequalities will empower communities and yourself.
Share Your Story
Sometimes, all it takes to empower others and yourself is sharing your journey or story of life. We all have had our fair share of struggles, triumphs, and failures. When you are willing to open up about each detail of your life, you can inspire others.
Let’s not forget that this can seem daunting, but it is an act of courage. It liberates you, helps you connect with others, and makes them feel less isolated. We never know the burden of shame or embarrassment that people carry deep within. Such difficult feelings are usually associated with unfortunate experiences or erroneous choices.
When someone is brave enough to share similar experiences and how they overcame them, it removes the stigma. For instance, a woman sharing her survivor story of sexual abuse may empower others to speak out. Your story may be the light that shines in the dark valleys of others’ lives.
Trust Others and Give Autonomy
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), trust is the principal force that binds our society. Essentially, every social relationship requires a certain degree of trust. Just imagine this – if you’re being told what to do constantly and micromanaged, would you feel empowered?
On the contrary, it may come as a massive blow to your self-esteem and worth. You may question your ability to make the right decisions, especially in high-stakes environments. When someone trusts you, they believe in your ability to achieve something, but they’re also there to offer support whenever needed.
That is the true essence of autonomy, be it at work or any other scenario in life. It is almost like the saying that the greatest leaders show us where to look, but they do not tell us what to see.
Some ways you can showcase your trust in others include open/honest communication, constructive feedback, accountability, and providing growth opportunities. This will empower you, in turn, because trust is also the foundation for stronger, more fulfilling relationships.
Be an Attentive Listener and Empathize
In the previous section, we discussed how sharing your story will empower others and yourself. The same goes the other way around, which requires active listening and deep empathy. The world is facing a chronic shortage of good listeners.
Discussing the impact and power of good listening, Psychology Today says that good listeners focus on what the other party says.
Most people today listen just to respond, not to understand or empathize. Some of the key aspects of good listening involve removing distractions, understanding, remembering, evaluating, and responding in an unbiased manner.
This simple act makes the speaker feel heard, validated, and valued. Active listening is the most basic yet powerful way to connect to someone. In a world where attention spans are getting shorter, offering your loving silence may do more to heal than well-intentioned words.
In turn, you will feel empowered because of stronger relationships, better decision-making, and improved overall well-being.
In the final analysis, no one is born a good leader; they must consciously choose to become one. Among other things, the surest trait of a great leader in the making is human-centered leadership. Such folks genuinely care about the success and well-being of others.
They understand that it is not about being in charge but about caring for those under their charge. In the process, they empower others to follow in their footsteps while empowering themselves to become better.
