How to Create a HR Function that Empowers Employees

Employee empowerment is the key to any successful business as it comes with a huge range of benefits for both employees and the organization as a whole. An empowered workforce is likely to be more productive, more satisfied within their roles and they’re more likely to be loyal to the organization. Other key benefits that arise from employees feeling empowered include:

• Going the extra mile to reach their targets
• Communicating more effectively
• Increased creativity and innovation
• A more positive attitude in the workplace
• Better customer services
• Acting as a strong advocate for the brand

Below, we’re going to look at six ways you can create a strong HR function that empowers employees and encourages people success within your organization.

1. Give employees autonomy over their workload

It’s important that employees don't feel like they're constantly being monitored or micromanaged, as this can be extremely frustrating and demotivating. As such, it’s a good idea to give employees autonomy over their own workload so they can manage their tasks in a way that works best for them. This not only shows them that they’re trusted to manage themselves, but it also means they can choose the working style that allows them to be most productive. So it’s a win-win situation for both sides.

2. Create opportunities for training and learning

Career progression is hugely important. Nowadays, very few workers will join a company with the hopes of breezing through each day doing the same monotonous tasks. Instead, professionals want the chance to progress and take their career to the next level, and a big part of this is being offered the opportunity to train, learn new skills and take on new responsibilities.

In order to create a HR function that empowers employees, training and learning needs to be built-in. Progression doesn't just mean getting a promotion, it can mean learning to operate new systems or taking on new, bigger accounts. Whatever it looks like for each individual role, being able to upskill or take on more responsibility can feel very empowering. Therefore, it’s a good idea to create a corporate culture that encourages learning and sets out logical career paths for each employee. This is usually done through monthly targets or goal setting.

3. Regularly ask for feedback

Knowing that you're being listened too, sharing your ideas, and seeing real changes being made can be one of the most empowering things in the world. This is why feedback needs to play a key role in your HR function. This can be done by way of employee engagement surveys and one-to-one meetings with managers, just so long as all employees are being given their chance to raise any issues or flag areas they believe need some improvement.

By actively asking for feedback, you're telling your workforce ‘we want to know how we can make things better for you’. This shows them that you really care about their wellbeing, working environment, and that you want them to succeed in their role, and this can be extremely empowering.

4. Reward their hard work

No matter what age you are or how senior your role, recognition will always play a big part in employee satisfaction and empowerment. Because as shallow as it may seem, who doesn't like to be told they're doing a good job? Reward and recognition drives people forward, it tells them that their hard work isn't going unnoticed and pushes them to continue working hard in the future.

There are a number of ways you can reward your employees, from bonuses and ‘Employee of the Month’ schemes to team lunches or an additional day of annual leave. Whatever works best for your organization is up to you, as long as you're rewarding your employee’s hard work and regularly recognizing the effort they're putting in.

5. Ensure they have the tools they need to succeed

Nothing makes your job harder than not having the right tools. If you want your employees to operate at maximum efficiency, they need the tools and systems to allow them to do this. Aiding your employees by giving them what they need to succeed shows that your organization is invested in them.

Employers who refuse to make room in the budget for the correct training, systems, software, or technologies could be sending the wrong message to their teams. It can also add to the stress of their daily workload. For this reason, one of the best ways to empower your employees is to listen to what they need and to invest in them.

6. Encourage communication and collaboration

Unfortunately, some organizations favor the ‘heads down, get on with it’ kind of approach to working. One in which the only sound that can be heard on the floor is employees furiously tapping away at their keyboards. While it’s understandable that you want to get the most from your team, allowing them to communicate with one another and have conversations can be the perfect way to inspire creativity and innovation. It also encourages collaboration, which often yields better results than all employees trying to operate individually.

It’s important to create a culture that encourages communication, collaboration, and even friendship amongst co-workers. Teams should be able to arrange brainstorm meetings where they can share ideas and work together. Similarly, they shouldn't feel like they can’t approach a colleague or manager with a great idea. Creating a culture that actively encourages communication, whether over the phone, email, or in person, is crucial.

Finally, it’s also a good idea to encourage employees to listen to one another and feedback between themselves. It can be very empowering to share ideas and then to actually see these put into action. For this reason, communication and collaboration are vital for innovation and empowerment.