"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin

As a leader your decision to empower or not to empower your people has a direct impact on the future direction of their lives.

By recognizing their potential, developing their skills, pushing them to accept risks and celebrating their successes, you'll push them to greater heights.

Leaders empower others by:
1.Believing in their potential.
2.Teaching them the skills and attitudes needed to succeed.
3.Encouraging them to step out and take risks.
4.Recognizing their successes.

Through empowerment, lives will be changed of those who will change others' lives.

Become someone who empowers.

Obstacles to Empowerment:
1.Job Security
Weak leaders worry that they will become expendable if they train up talented subordinates. Not wanting to be surpassed, they intentionally make others look bad from time to time.
Insecure leaders refuse to delegate. They want to be the go-to-people. They refuse to train and empower others who could help.
The thrust is that the only way to make yourself indispensable is to make yourself dispensable.

2.Resistance to Change
John Steinback, Nobel Prize winner said, "It is the nature of man as he grows older to protect against change, particularly change for the better."
Empowerment brings constant change and that it encourages people to grow and innovate.
Change is the price of progress.
Insecure leaders view change as a threat rather than an opportunity.

3.Lack of Self-worth
Many people desire personal value and esteem from their title or position. When either is threatened, they feel their self-worth is under attack.
Back Rogers said, "To those who have confidence in themselves, change is a stimulus because they believe one person can make a difference and influence what goes on around them."
These people are the doers and motivators.
They empower.
The purpose of power is to be distributed not hoarded but only secure leaders are able to give power away.