Empowerment is an important way to help yourself become stronger and more confident, especially in controlling your life and claiming what is yours by right.

I have posted before around the importance of leaders creating a framework that enables others to be empowered.  Today’s post will focus on individual empowerment.

Ask for Forgiveness

A key way to exercise empowerment is to proceed with confidence whether explicitly authorized or not.  If questioned about your actions, in the worse case just apologizes for overstepping and ask for forgiveness.

There are boundaries to this approach that must be adhered to.  If explicitly forbidden from taking a specific action or if the action borders on improper behavior (e.g., illegal, immoral and so on) don’t do it.

If you plan to ask for forgiveness post mortem (per-say) it is critical you have a solid justification and realistic support for your actions.

Empowerment not Anarchy

Taking control of your life does not mean at the expense of all else.  Doing anything you want is a form of anarchy and is not being advocated here.

Taking charge when it makes sense to do so and in doing so enhance your own self-worth and build personal confidence is strongly advocated.   But, be sure to apply a large dose of common sense before acting, perhaps recklessly.

Better Results

Acting based on the directions given by others can be demeaning and also typically will have reduced buy-in by you relative to the matter at hand.  For the sake of your own self worth take personal accountability and responsibility whenever you can.  Empower yourself.