Empowerment and Participation

“The degree to which the opportunity to use power effectively is granted to or withheld from individuals is one operative difference between those companies which stagnate and those which innovate.” – Rosabeth Moss Kantor

In Rosabeth Moss Kantor’s 1983 classic, The Change Masters, there’s an emphasis on the ability of a change-master — someone who is able to manage change effectively — to empower members of the team. Kantor’s study made a big difference in acceptance of the concept of empowerment within organizations, moving the idea from what was often seen as a fuzzy leadership style to the forefront in effective leadership in times of change.

The book is still one of the most relevant of the business books produced in the last quarter of the 20th century. If you’re in the business of introducing innovation and change, I’d recommened retrieving Kantor’s book off the bookshelf, or finding a new copy.