Developing Self-Empowerment
We all have opportunities to explore and develop new skills. In order to become more empowered we should, in our interactions with others, aim to:
- Develop trust.
- Understand our strengths, weaknesses and limits.
- Develop confidence and self-esteem.
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Developing Trust
Developing trust can be a difficult and lengthy process. In order to develop trust with others you should aim to:
- Be Open: In the sharing of information, ideas and thoughts. When appropriate also sharing emotions, feelings and reactions. Also aim to reciprocate appropriately, when somebody shares their emotions, thoughts or feelings with you.
- Share and Co-operate: Share resources and knowledge with others to help them to achieve their goals. Work together towards mutual goals.
- Be Trustworthy: When other people place their trust in you do your best to provide positive outcomes.
- Be Accepting: Hold the values and views of others in high regard.
- Be Supportive: Support others when necessary but also recognise their strengths - allowing them to work towards goals without your intervention as appropriate.
In the workplace and in any professional working relationship there are three basic components of trust:
- Trust in the integrity and goodwill between all workers, regardless of salary or status and whether paid or unpaid.
- Trust that all workers within an organisation share the same objectives and are open with each other about any conflicting objectives.
- Trust in each other's competence and to do what you promise to undertake.
Trust can be broken very quickly and may never be restored to its former level, think about the points above and try to build and maintain trusting relationships in both your personal and professional life.
Avoid the following actions that may destroy trust and have a detrimental effect on personal empowerment:
- Making a joke at another’s expense.
- Being judgemental about another’s behaviour, attitudes or beliefs.
- Communicating rejection or non-acceptance, either verbally or non-verbally.
Understanding Your Strengths, Weaknesses and Limits
Becoming empowered includes knowing your own strengths and weaknesses, identifying these will enable you to work on improving your weaknesses and build on your strengths.
It is not uncommon for other people to have misjudged your strengths and weaknesses, or for you to misjudge those of others. This can lead to opportunities being limited due to the misconception of abilities. It is important, therefore, to know your own strengths and weaknesses and to communicate them clearly to others, whilst encouraging others to communicate their strengths and weaknesses to you.
In some circumstances you may feel that you face problems that are truly beyond your capabilities. In such cases you should seek help. Empowered people know their own limits and have no problems with asking for help or guidance. Self-knowledge, often referred to as self-awareness, is a strength which enables you to set personal improvement goals in order to make a more substantial contribution. The more empowered you become, the more you will be able to help others to become empowered.
Developing Confidence
Confidence acts as one of the greatest motivators or most powerful limitations to anyone trying to change their behaviour and become more empowered.
Most people only undertake tasks that they feel capable of doing and it takes great effort to overcome a lack of confidence in one's capabilities. Self-empowerment involves people constantly challenging their own beliefs and what they are capable of undertaking.
Personal empowerment is not a static thing that you can do once in your life.
You should view personal empowerment as ongoing personal development. As circumstances change and develop and as we ourselves change and develop so do our needs for development and empowerment.
Find more at: http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/personal-empowerment.html#ixzz3hmXsmQPD
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