How to be Empowered
The art of using your skills, abilities and strength
The Ineffective Leader
Years ago, I had a manager who made decisions based on the flow of “least resistance.” He was stuck in a machine where strong opinions mattered more than concrete facts, and loud voices won over solid strategy.
His team, their morale constantly under siege, lived in this environment, unable to see a way out. Even if he wanted to do it differently, he could not lead his team through the mess.
He was not given the tools or the authority to be effective in his role.
His team, the product, and the more significant outcomes suffered because this brilliant person led a very skilled team that wanted to see their clients succeed but couldn’t.
When my manager found his clear value add, he could see his value, contribution, and confidence. This led to a complete change in his leadership.
Although this was early in my career, I took this lesson as a key consideration when choosing where to use my skills—and you should, too.
The Five Questions
Five questions must be answered daily, representing a core set of opportunities to define or redefine our identity.
Because they cut through most of the protections that we build up.
1. Am I doing the right things?
2. Are my contributions valuable?
3. Am I empowered to be effective?
4. Are my actions aligned with essential goals?
5. Do I find purpose and fulfillment? Your journey to how you answer these questions matters. Because you matter.
Among the many questions we ask throughout the day, a few core questions dig deeply into an area that can shape our identity. This question is no different. Its answer can define our velocity and veracity.
3. Am I empowered to be effective?This question gives us freedom or chains more than the others. If our effectiveness is genuinely bound to empowerment, then we need to be empowered to be effective.
But what is empowerment?
Empowerment
Empowerment is the collision of many things that allow us to be successful on the journey ahead. Similar to the day(s) preceding a vacation, there’s a list of items necessary to know we can succeed. This list is how empowered you are.
On a trip, it looks like:
Am I confident of my travel plans to arrive at my destination?
Do I have the necessary supplies to ensure I can enjoy?
Do I understand the itinerary to ensure I get to do what I want?
Do I have enough money to take care of my needs?
Is everything covered at home to ensure I can enjoy the vacation?
Your daily empowerment looks no different. Do you have the plans to help forward momentum? Do you have the things you need? Do you know the steps you need to take? Do you have the money, time, and energy to be successful? Do you know if other items are covered so you know you can focus?
The trick with empowerment is that we feel that our lack of empowerment is due to someone else's choices or control. We think that someone else is responsible for providing us with the tools, plans, and confidence to move forward.
And we are very wrong - because the truth is that it’s not about how others empower us. It’s really about how we empower ourselves.
The Games we play with ourselves.
Ultimately, empowerment is a personal journey. It’s not about what others think about you and what they provide to you. It’s about looking in the mirror and deciding that you have what it takes to face the challenges in your day.
Because you do, you’ve already proven this many times in the day leading up to today.
The mirror
When we take the time to look in the mirror and have the strength to see who we are, we can see the unique skills, abilities, and strengths we bring. We acknowledge that to be enabled, we need what we already have.
In the text below, we start with the following frustrations.
Pride silences growth. Aimlessness silences clarity. Confusion silences planning. Fear silences action. Indecision silences success. Impatience silences prosperity.
It’s not until we genuinely look in the mirror that we can read the text above from right to left and find our value, confidence, and enablement.
Re-read the above from right to left to see the truth of your empowerment.
Takeaway
Empowerment is your responsibility. It’s an opportunity to see the successes and experiences that have brought you to where you are and to recognize that you have what it takes to face the next challenges.
May you look into the mirror and see your strength.
Here’s your Opportunity
To answer the question, “Am I empowered to be effective?” You must have clarity on your goals and vision.
We provide templates to help you write your vision and plans to capture the vision you are uniquely empowered to accomplish.
Our Vision / Mission / Values template can help you look in the mirror and find your empowerment.
Our 2024 planning will help you move purposefully and confidently in the months and years ahead.
We aim to help you become your best self and lead others to be their best self.
-Your friends at OutsmartChaos.
Your Takeaway
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