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Empowering people within the workforce is a very important means for managing change. Actually, empowerment is talked about more often than it is done.  However, when people do not feel empowered, it’s often for good reasons.  Formal structures make it difficult for people to act, to really make a difference.  Are users encouraged to collaborate with other staff and present new ideas in groups or are they to bring their ideas to their superiors.  Another area that is very important to consider is how employees’ performance is measured.  Are people’s performance based on individual accomplishments.  If this is the case, there is little incentive to work with others to contribute to the organization.

Sometimes the combination of people and information systems inhibits action.  Often people lack the correct skills.  It is very important to carry out a training needs assessment.  Identify the staff’s level of competency and the areas where additional training is required.  This could be with the proper use of email and expanding their knowledge of the features readily available in office productivity tools.  As organizations are looking for ERM system solutions, staff should be given basic electronic records management training to get a broader perspective of their records as assets of the organization and that there is a proper place to capture their records.  This training can be developed internally or provided by external training experts.

All too often, bosses or managers discourage actions aimed at implementing a new vision. This is especially true when it comes to the use of social business tools.  It can be quite disconcerting for management to see more junior employees taking the initiative in this area. This creates an ungainly situation where the employees understand what has to be done and want to make it a reality, but they are thwarted at every turn.

You must take action to reduce the formal structures, get management to buy into empowerment and encourage people to work more collaboratively and with initiative.  If skills are lacking, provide training and/or more information.  Improve information systems and adjust personnel activities to allow for empowered employees to act.  Share your vision for these changes openly and honestly so that everyone buys into creating a much more empowered organisation that is better prepared and more willing to undertake business change. 

Tell us about your experiences in bringing about change in your organization.

Do you feel empowered within your organization?

How has your organization supported your collaborative efforts?

I will be speaking at the following events:

• March 13^th– 16^th, 2012 AIIM ECM Masters in Seattle, WA
• March 19^th– 23^rd, 2012 AIIM Conference in San Francisco, CA