Here is a summary of the article "5 Strategies to Empower Employees to Make Decisions" published in HBR (2023).
Autonomy is crucial in fostering an innovative culture. When individuals have the ability to make their own decisions, it enhances motivation, which leads to better performance and well-being. It also allows leaders to focus on significant and complex decisions and explore new opportunities for value creation. However, creating autonomy involves shifting decision-making power from the top to the frontline, which can be challenging for executives used to hierarchical structures.
Employees often lack experience in making decisions and may struggle without clear guidance or support, leading to what is termed the “decision deficit.”
To address this, leaders can implement the following five strategies:
1. Prepare Yourself to Empower Others: Reflect on past challenges in delegating, start with low-risk decisions, and gradually increase responsibilities. View delegation as a way to enhance decision-making quality and free up time for innovation and growth.
2. Develop Decision Principles: Encourage employees to think for themselves by establishing principles for decision-making, such as considering customer and organizational interests, assessing risks, and ensuring transparency.
3. Clarify Decision-Making Roles: Define who is responsible for which decisions and ensure the right people are making them. Encourage delegation based on individuals’ capabilities and areas of responsibility.
4. Show Your Belief in People: Express confidence in employees’ abilities to make decisions, support them through challenges, and reward their successes. This builds trust and encourages a culture of empowerment.
5. Create Learning Opportunities: Coach employees in decision-making, involve them in critical meetings, structure meetings around decisions, and communicate high-profile decisions transparently to provide learning experiences.
Implementing these strategies can help reduce the decision deficit and lead to greater engagement, productivity, and growth within the organization.
To find the complete article in HBR:
https://hbr.org/2023/03/5-strategies-to-empower-employees-to-make-decisions