Role of leadership style and employees personal characteristics on employee empowerment Murari Krishna, Chief Manager (Quality) Composite Manufacturing Division, Hindustan aeronautics Limited, Marathhalli Post, Bangalore – 560037, India. Online published on 19 October, 2011. Abstract In recent years, the pace of organizational change has accelerated, the competitive pressure from outside the organization has intensified, and most organizations find themselves operating in more complex, unpredictable, and dynamic environments. Hence, in today's rapidly changing and very threatening environments, organizations find themselves always scrambling for the competitive advantage. They realize that they must continuously improve the way they organize and manage themselves to be successful and competitive. They understand that the organizational competitiveness will ultimately depend on their capability to configure people and design a system for optimal execution of strategy. In this era of globalization, there is a need for employees’ empowerment in organization so that employees will be in position to make quick decision and respond quickly to any changes in the environment. Organizations that are committed to employee empowerment, they are in a position to motivate and retain their employees (Nick et al., 1994). Level of employee empowerment in an organization depends on the leadership style in the organization. Many researches have been carried out in the fields of leadership styles and empowerment separately linking these to the organizational efficiency and effectiveness individually. The various types of leadership styles have different impact on empowerment of the employees. This paper highlights that the leadership and employees personality play vital roles in employee empowerment. The common empowering factors for empowerment are Information sharing, Vision, Developing Competency, Providing Resources, Sufficient Support, Faith and Risk taking, Rewards and Recognition, Gradual implementation. This is possible by initiative of leadership in the organization. It also highlights that Employee Empowerment creates Trust, Commitment, Competitiveness, Employee Involvement and Quality of work life in employees resulting in high competitive advantage to the organization. Top |