Empowering Your Team in 2025

I am sure many of us are settling into our cadence for the year ahead at this stage, with our heads full of goals, objectives, aspirations and some worries too. I wanted to kick this years newsletter series off with a topic that I feel is important in assisting you to in achieving your goals - Empowerment!

Why Empowerment is Important

At DSM, we are tackling many projects simultaneously across Marketing, Sales, IT, HR, and Operations. This is only possible through engaging and empowering our team and giving them the autonomy, resources, and confidence to do it. Empowerment is not just a buzzword; it's a critical component of our success and growth and here’s why:

1. It Fosters Innovation and Creativity: When team members feel empowered, they are more likely to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions. This creativity is essential for staying competitive and adapting to changes in your industry.
2. It Increases Engagement and Motivation: Empowered employees are more likely to be engaged and motivated. In my experience they take ownership of their work and are more committed to achieving our company's goals.
3. It Enhances Skill Development: Empowerment encourages continuous learning and skill development. By giving team members, the autonomy to make decisions, they gain valuable experience and grow professionally.

Benefits of Empowerment

Empowering your team is not just about giving them more responsibility; it's about unlocking their full potential and driving your company forward. These are some key benefits of fostering this culture that I have observed:

1. Improved Performance: I have seen empowered teams deliver higher levels of productivity and efficiency. I have seen confidence grow to take the initiative and solve problems quickly.
2. Higher Job Satisfaction: I have seen higher retention rates and a more positive workplace culture. When employees feel trusted and valued, their job satisfaction usually increases.
3. Better Decision-Making: Empowered employees are closer to the day-to-day operations and often have valuable insights. Their input often leads to better decision-making and more effective solutions.

Creating Trust and Safety

To truly empower your team, you must create an environment of trust and safety. It's essential that everyone feels comfortable and safe to voice their opinions and be part of the solution. Here are some ways you can achieve this:

1. Open Communication: Encourage open and honest communication. Make it clear that all ideas and feedback are welcome and valued.
2. Supportive Leadership: As leaders, we must be supportive and approachable. Show empathy and understanding and be willing to listen to concerns and suggestions.
3. Psychological Safety: Foster a culture where team members feel safe to take risks and make mistakes. This is crucial for learning and growth. Most of the best lessons I have learned are from my failures.

Leadership Oversight vs. Control

One common concern is the balance between leadership oversight and control. It's natural for leaders to be cautious about handing over autonomy, but it's important to distinguish between oversight and micromanagement:

1. Oversight: Provide guidance and support without micromanaging. Set clear expectations and goals but allow team members the freedom to determine how to achieve them. Ensure there is a link to what the team is working towards and the company goals.
2. Trust: Trust your team to make decisions and take ownership of their work. This trust will empower them and build their confidence.
3. Feedback: Offer constructive feedback and recognise achievements. Celebrate successes and learn from setbacks together.

Our Approach at DSM

As a leader, I regularly ask, "How can I help?" For me, it essentially comes down to three things that I consciously do on an ongoing basis.

• Provide autonomy by regularly getting out of the teams way
• Ensure (as much as possible) they have the resources they need to achieve our objectives
• Build confidence through mentoring and providing positive feedback and affirmation

As you begin your journey in 2025, embrace the power of empowerment. Fostering a culture of trust, autonomy, and support, so you can begin unlock your team's full potential and drive your company forward.

I am excited to announce that I will be doing a LinkedIn Live session with Samantha Kelly on 21st January at 10am to discuss this very topic. More to come on that very soon, so save the date and hope you can join us...