Empower Yourself and Others in the Workplace [5 Ways How]

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The 5 Best Ways to Empower Yourself and Others in the Workplace

Hoping to get that big promotion? Looking for ways to advance your career? Want to exceed your quarterly goals so you can get that raise?

In order to get what you want out of work, you’ll need to display competency and confidence. And the best way to build that confidence within is to empower yourself in a way that others take notice.  

Good news: it’s easier to do than you may think!

If you’re ready to take your career to the next level, here are the five best ways to empower yourself and others in the workplace.

1. Be Authentic

No one likes being around someone who pretends to be something they’re not. When you’re at work, be yourself. Be authentic. Let the real you shine.

This isn’t just essential at work — this is a tactic that can improve every aspect of your life.

But there’s more to being authentic than dressing how you like and laughing at the odd jokes you find funny. Being authentic also means being clear about what success is and what personal happiness looks like to you.

Don’t measure your own level of success by what other people think success means. Instead, know what’s important in your own life and what’s truly meaningful to you.

If that means staying at a mid-level job, then so be it! Not everyone needs to aspire to be the CEO or VP.

Being authentic also allows you to build trust, empowering you to feel more assertive at work and in other areas of your life. Plus, having a genuine sense of self can easily rub off on the people around you!

2. Ask For Feedback

If you want to feel empowered, learn to take criticism, and use those critiques to improve upon areas where you might be falling short. In the workplace, the way to make criticism work to your advantage is to ask for consistent feedback.

Schedule regular meetings with your boss or supervisor to review your job performance. Whether you lead a team or are in an entry-level position at the bottom rung of the ladder, knowing where you’re lacking is vital. If you don’t know, you’ll never know what areas you need to improve in.

Asking for feedback (and receiving it well) is also the best way to hone in on what’s expected of you. Knowing those expectations will make it much easier to succeed.

When your peers see you taking in criticism and improving yourself month after month, they’ll probably want to do the same.  

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up

We’re not suggesting that you storm into your boss’s office and tell him or her that they’re a horrible person and that everything they’re doing is wrong. (That’s not smart — that’s a great way to get fired). But you should, within reason, voice your opinion when given a chance.

Don’t be afraid to push back on ideas or solutions, even with your superiors. Some bosses may like a “yes man,” but most will have more respect for you if you are willing to speak up and say what you think.

This only works if you know how to communicate effectively. You need to know how to phrase things without making it sound like you think you’re smarter or that you could do the job better than your boss. You need to have integrity and be honest but also have tact and exhibit a level of decorum. Be honest, but be respectful.

And don’t just speak your mind to the people beneath you. Learn to communicate effectively with people of all levels, including top-level executives. If your goal is to climb your way up the ladder, you’ll want those people on your side.

When your peers and subordinates see you speaking your mind, they may feel empowered to speak up too.

4. Get Comfortable With Chaos

No matter what type of work you do, there’s one thing that every person in every job knows all too well: 

Things don’t always go according to plan.

Be prepared for things to go wrong. You can better control a situation if you know how to roll with the punches and handle unexpected issues without getting stressed out.

This does not mean that you need to adopt an easygoing, carefree nature. It merely means that you know how to take things in stride, and it proves that you can handle anything that’s thrown your way.

And there’s nothing more empowering than having your boss come to you when the stuff hits the fan. If you’re the one they lean on in tough times, you’re doing something right!

Exhibit a calm demeanor in stressful situations, and your co-workers may adopt some problem-solving skills as well.

5. Surround Yourself With the Right People

If you want to empower yourself and others, there is one thing you absolutely must do without exception:

Avoid the workplace drama!

Surround yourself with positive people that have a strong work ethic. Avoid the people (as much as you can) that always gripe and cause unnecessary angst in the workplace. The complainers that have personal drama with each other will get you nowhere. The people that are there to do the job and keep a level head are the ones that can advance your career.

Having a mentor in the workplace is another significant step in making sure you’re associating with the right people. Your mentor can help navigate you through your specific role as well as help guide your entire career.

In turn, be willing to share what you know with someone else that holds your same workplace views and has the same attitude about the job. Being a mentor can be just as rewarding as having one.

In Summary

To empower yourself and your colleagues in the workplace, here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Be yourself and define your own measure of success
• Ask for feedback and use that criticism to improve your performance
• Learn to communicate effectively and don’t be afraid to speak up 
• Keep calm under pressure and learn how to problem-solve
• Avoid workplace drama and surround yourself with positive people

Put these tips into an action plan, and you’ll feel empowered in no time! And by inspiring the people around you to do the same, you just might change the entire workplace dynamic. 

Author Bio

Angus Flynn has five years of Property Management experience working primarily in high-end apartment community living.  His ability to consistently deliver white-glove service to his residents and prospects has propelled him in a successful career that now finds him leading the team at Turtle Creek.