Today, you scroll through a website for any organization, and as you read through their highly ambitious business vision, mission and purpose, you are likely to come across a statement or two that alludes to how the organization plans to develop their talent by showing their employees the way towards “Empowerment”.  This term has gathered huge attention over the past many decades in the West, especially as it relates to “Women Empowerment”, however more recently it has been finding its way into all types of organizations encouraging leadership to show their support and fully implement empowerment within all levels of employees. 

Numerous surveys and independent research conducted by many reputed firms show that empowerment leads to increased motivation, increased employee satisfaction, faster action/implementation, all of which helps with higher amounts of productivity leading to better results and outstanding performance of the organization.  Since empowerment has so many benefits tied to it, certainly it is crucial for leaders and businesses to understand more about it and take the necessary steps to move their companies towards the empowered structure.  However, this change cannot happen overnight and needs to be learnt and vetted through appropriately for it to take the necessary shape so the entire organization can benefit from its implementation. 

Not only organizations are focusing more on this subject, but individuals also these days are encouraged and coached on being more confident and increasing self-control to achieve a particular goal they may have set their eyes on.  The concept has been around for many decades as psychologists started studying it in 1981.  While the actual work may have received more focus and highlight couple decades ago, the idea of self-thought, confidence and taking ownership has been around for centuries.  We have known of various examples from history where individuals took ownership of their life and decisions they made went on to create history for mankind! 

To fully grasp the concept, let us first define what is empowerment:

• The simplest definition that comes up in a Google search says “Empowerment means authority or power given to someone to do something”. 
• Another definition from Oxford Languages states: “Empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights”. 
• And lastly, Wikipedia defines: “Empowerment is the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities. This enables them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority”.

One common thread in all these definitions is strength, confidence and autonomy to oneself.  Now, it is important to note that if this concept is being referred to in the context of an organization, their leaders, managers and even Human resources professionals have to ensure they thoroughly push it through all levels of management and employees to ensure greater understanding to benefit everyone’s growth which leads to organizational growth and success. 

On its basic level, every individual already has the resources within to embark on the journey of Empowerment.  Showing responsibility towards life decisions, taking accountability for successes and failures, gaining knowledge to perfection, displaying agility when needed and showcasing confidence in managing every aspect of their life – all of this leads to being and feeling empowered. 

Socrates said – “Know Thyself”.  The basic underlying premise of this is to for one to know their own character and understand their limitations.  Only when we understand ourselves better, we can truly break the barrier of hypothetical or fake limits and grow in confidence and push ourselves beyond borders to achieve our goals!

It is a bit sad to see that an idea that was so powerful and expressed so many centuries ago somehow lost its significance as the world started to evolve and humanity made progress.  Although, as we got closer to the 21^st century, the need for self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-realization garnered attention in an unimaginable way as the need for humans to go back to their roots and find connection to the purpose of their life became increasingly necessary!  Hence slowly but surely, the need for empowerment has sprung up as it has shown to lead to huge benefits individually and collectively.   

As we push forward with this concept for continued evolution, it is also critical to distinguish what does not necessarily align with empowerment.  No matter how progressive we think, and how innovative we become, indecency and shamelessness can never symbolize empowerment!  To discern right from wrong, good from bad, innocent from arrogant, it is important for everyone to stay true to their self-reflection and achieve higher awareness of their surroundings and not let their own biases or ignorance limit their ability to bring about the necessary change!

The Holy Quran empowers an individual in multiple ways.  The sound advice from our creator to be knowledgeable, balanced, righteous, virtuous, humble, joyous, confident, tolerant, pious and sincere in every aspect of one’s life are the best lessons anyone can learn by reading the various prophet stories incorporated into it.

I will end this blog by quoting Maya Angelou:

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them!

BE EMPOWERED!