What should an empowered employee be able to do?

An empowered employee is one who has the authority and autonomy to make decisions that impact their own work. This capability is fundamental to fostering a more dynamic and responsive work environment where employees feel accountable and engaged. When employees are empowered to make decisions, they can respond more effectively to challenges and opportunities as they arise, directly influencing outcomes and driving improvement in processes and results.

By allowing employees to make decisions affecting their work, organizations promote a sense of ownership and responsibility, which can lead to higher motivation and job satisfaction. This empowerment can encourage innovative thinking and problem-solving, as employees are no longer just following orders but are actively participating in shaping their work and contributing to the organization's goals.

While supervising coworkers, controlling the organizational budget, and describing management's plans can be important functions in an organization, these responsibilities typically involve greater levels of authority and oversight that may not be appropriate for all empowered employees. Moreover, empowering employees generally focuses on enhancing their ability to influence their immediate roles rather than placing managerial or financial responsibilities upon them.