Core Values Series: Empower the Team— NEWS

Core Values Series: Empower the Team

In our third month of our Core Values Series, we ask our staff what our core value, “Empower the Team”, means to them. Asking each staff member about Nacht & Lewis’ core values has been so interesting and eye opening in seeing how differently each value can be interpreted person to person. You learn a lot about your teammates from this exercise and it really is conducive to working with each person individually and as a part of a team. Here are some of our interpretations:

– The most truly empowering feeling is to be given a sense of freedom and responsibility. It signifies trust between the two parties; whether with a client or with a colleague, trust is the number one most empowering tool we have. If we learn to trust in each other’s work ethics and capabilities, we can grow stronger and closer as a firm and as a service industry.

– When you work at a company where no question is too small, you feel encouraged to keep asking. When you work at a company where no task seems too big, you keep trying.

– Empowering the team means giving opportunities to learn, experiment, test, fail and take responsibility for. When team members are empowered, they are given growth opportunities while being mentored in order to grow in experience and knowledge so that they have the confidence to take on new skills and responsibilities.

– Foster an environment of trust and open communication. Share information, rewards and power with employees so that they can take initiative and make decisions to solve problems and improve skills. Help employees set a plan for growth and provide employees with the skills, knowledge and strategies to be successful.

– Empowering the team is accepting different managing styles that can produce the same outcome as yours.

– The transfer of knowledge and skills to others for the benefit of the whole team.

“The great leaders are like the best conductors – they reach beyond the notes to reach the magic in the players.” – Blaine Lee

– Empowering the team is when you trust your team to work and communicate with clients, contractors and consultants, knowing if they need your assistance and guidance they will come ask and will have your back.

– To empower the team is to provide a situation for a team member that is new to them, something that they have never done before, allowing them to expand their knowledge. Testing their knowledge, abilities and critical thinking is key to growing staff members. Allowing newer staff members to design and manage a small project with close oversight is very beneficial. There are things that are only learned by hands-on experience, and running the project from start to finish is very taxing with lots of juggling. Constructive feedback during this time is paramount, as is support during the project.

– Never me, Always we, Together everyone achieves more (TEAM)

– Empowering the team is a lot like love because you get what you give. You get more if you make the team’s focus about something greater than the individual members. An empowered team makes space for more people and more creative possibilities.

Empowerment is giving someone the ability, strength and confidence to grow and to learn. This is especially important for women to do for each other – in business and in life. “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”  – Madeleine Albright

– Empowering the team means to promote the self-realization that with collaborative effort, everyone is a vital piece to this puzzle – what we call a “successful team”. Everyone can benefit from one another and together create a powerful message to live & work by.

-Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.

 -Understand the need, Give authority to grow, Opportunity

-Empowering the team is constructive. It is making sure every single person has a voice. It is respect. It is listening.

Rules for Leaders

You can catch up on the first two posts of the series here: design thoughtfully and deliver excellence.

November 28, 2016

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