I do not like the term “empowerment”.
“Empowerment” is everywhere in the world of change leadership. It’s in the top three of the most commonly used leadership terms globally according to @DigitalDefynd. Personally, I never use “empowerment” unless I’m working with someone who is doing so already.
When organisations or leaders seek to "empower" people, it's often them choosing what's best or how much control others can have. This puts the person or group doing the empowering above everyone else & doesn't really give true freedom to those on the receiving end. Empowerment suggests that power is something that “we” give to “them,” reinforcing the status of the “giver” & (often unintentionally) making others feel weak or dependent, which is the opposite of what empowerment is supposed to do.
“Agency” is a better principle than “empowerment”. It means recognising people's innate ability to contribute & lead rather than relying on managers to bestow permission. People with agency decide what to do, take action & shape what happens. It’s their own drive & ability, not because someone else says they can. Agency makes people active collaborators in change & leads to better, more sustainable change outcomes.
As leaders, we can give people empowerment, by granting permission or sharing authority. We cannot give people agency: people have to build it for themselves through practice, experience & reflection. But leaders can create a climate for agency to thrive through encouragement, resources & space.
Being “agentic” means acting with or displaying agency. This term has become popular recently because of the development of “agentic AI” – AI systems that can act autonomously & make decisions, rather than just react to commands, prompts or rules. We don’t just need agentic AI; we need agentic people too.
“Agentic” is beyond “empowered”; it means shifting from a top-down model of control to one that trusts & supports people to make their own choices, solve problems & shape their own work. This shift requires us to let go of rigid structures, foster open dialogue & design systems that enable autonomy & collective discovery. When teams operate with agency, they become active collaborators, driving innovation & resilience in the face of uncertainty. The future belongs to leaders who encourage agency - rather than empowerment - where people don’t wait for permission, but act with purpose & ownership.
“Designing for agency: how leaders move past empowerment”: https://t.co/S5ehHIHqqA. By Daniel Gagnon & Pete Behrens.
Graphic adapted from “Agency is the highest level of personal competence”: https://t.co/EwXlsbdvC4. By @ThomasSBateman.
💡 Did you know?
Mentoring programs have proven to be among the most effective tools for developing leadership skills.
Source: @DigitalDefynd
Today on #BizapaloozaChat, we'll talk about Leadership Skills For Small Business Growth
Join us at 2pm ET.
Very interesting statistics on fintech and how it reshapes the landscape of financial services with its rapid growth and technological innovations.
#fintech#financialservices#financialinclusion#innovation
https://t.co/a75XE8qi4X
12. Digital Defynd
Unlock access to over 96,000 top-rated free online courses! Simply use the search tool, select a topic, and discover where these courses are available.
https://t.co/P2lTTFZL0D
Curious about data engineering? Explore insights from top data engineers on their challenges, strategies, and the evolving field. Learning from their journeys can inspire your own! https://t.co/6rzRYDlpdV
Menjelang 2028, Malaysia's online education market dijangka cecah $2.1 billion - DigitalDefynd.
Ini 3 langkah sesiapa boleh buat to get a piece of the market:
@Momen_HQ 7. DigitalDefynd
Find the best free courses from all over the internet.
Use the search engine, choose a topic and it will show you where those courses are.
7. DigitalDefynd
Find the best free courses from all over the internet.
Use the search engine, choose a topic and it will show you where those courses are.
I am so pleased to report that "The Digital Transformation Podcast" has been named among the top 10 DX podcasts for 2024 (#2)! by DigitalDefynd. Thanks for listening. https://t.co/E4LdHieZqs
#DX#DigitalTransformation#KevinCraine#Innovation#AI
3. DigitalDefynd
🟣 Discover the best free courses available on the internet.
🟣 Use the search engine to pick a topic, and it will direct you to relevant courses.
To everyone who has been asking me about free courses, I have finally brought solution. Hope i can rest now?😅
Digitaldefynd is where you can get free courses on subjects you want to learn.
#skills#tech#brandulox
🌟 Aggregator website of the world's best online courses and certifications at @DigitalDefynd! Free and Paid !
DON’T MISS IT!! https://t.co/jFnhC9DKVF
With 96,000+ courses and 45,000+ free courses, you can expand your knowledge in various fields.
Start learning today!
#OnlineLearning #Education #FreeCourses #CoursePlatform #Certifications #Ai #Bitcoin