Profiles In Leadership - Taking The Right Steps

of trust and growth. Leaders can cultivate this environment through the following practices: • Set Clear Expectations : Clearly define goals, roles, and responsibilities, then trust your team to execute without constant oversight. This clarity provides a foundation for autonomy and accountability. • Provide Resources and Support : Ensure employees have access to the tools, training, and guidance they need to succeed. As Coun, Peters, Blomme, and Schaveling (2022) note, empowerment is most effective when employees feel supported and equipped to take initiative (Coun et al., 2022) • Encourage Decision-Making : Involve team members in decisions that affect their work, giving them a sense of ownership and accountability. This not only builds confidence but also fosters engagement. • Celebrate Success and Effort : Recognize and celebrate achievements and the effort it took to reach them, reinforcing a culture of growth and innovation. • Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities : Foster an environment where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning and growth instead of failure. Encourage your team to "fail forward" and use setbacks as steppingstones to success. • Be a Mentor, not a Micromanager : Guide and support your team while allowing them to learn and grow independently. As Lee, Willis, and Tian (2018) emphasize, empowerment works best when

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