This morning, I listened to Patrick Lencioni talk about a book he recently endorsed, and it sparked some thought on leadership and empowerment. He shared an idea that stopped me in my tracks: true empowerment means giving away some of your leadership.
Wait, what? Giving something away?
I’d always thought of empowerment as adding to—building someone up, equipping them to succeed. But Pat flipped the perspective. From the leader’s side, empowerment isn’t just adding; it’s giving. You’re handing over some of your power, your control, your spotlight, to someone else.
That’s a big ask of yourself!
Why Empowerment Requires Confidence
As I thought it over, I realized something else: to truly empower others, we first need to be secure in our own leadership. Think about it—giving part of your power away requires setting your ego aside. It means letting someone else shine, which can feel vulnerable unless you’re confident in your abilities.
This level of leadership takes self-awareness. It’s about understanding what makes you tick, what insecurities might pop up, and how to manage them. High self-awareness makes it easier to step back and let others succeed because you’re not viewing their success as a threat to your own.
Self-Awareness: The Foundation of Great Leadership
Self-awareness isn’t just some fluffy buzzword—it’s the foundation for personal growth and effective leadership. When you understand yourself, you can:
- Recognize and manage uncomfortable feelings (like when you’re tempted to micromanage).
- Respond thoughtfully to situations instead of reacting impulsively.
- Build stronger relationships by understanding what drives you and others.
The more self-aware you are, the more confident you’ll feel giving credit and decision-making power to your team. Of course, that confidence doesn’t develop overnight—it takes practice.
Building Confidence and Trust
When you first start empowering others, it can feel uncomfortable. Letting go of control stirs up feelings of uncertainty, maybe even anxious thoughts. But here’s the good news: trust in your team grows over time as you see them rise to the challenge.
Start small. Give someone ownership of a decision, support them along the way, and watch what happens. Each time you let go and they succeed, your confidence in them—and yourself—will grow. Resist the urge to correct or provide your opinion. It may feel challenging and take everything you have not to interject, but their growth (and yours) is worth it.
Tools to Boost Self-Awareness
If you’re looking to strengthen your self-awareness, there are plenty of tools to help. One of my favorites is Everything DiSC®, but there are other assessments out there—some free, some paid. The key is finding one that resonates with you and gives you insight into your own tendencies and behaviors. Send me an email if you want my link to Everything DiSC®. Email: shannon@unleashingpotentialhr.com
As leaders, we talk a lot about developing others. But empowering our teams starts with developing ourselves. When we take the time to grow our self-awareness and confidence, we create space for others to thrive—and that’s real leadership.