"EMPOWERING OTHERS"

The word "empower" means to give authority to.  Empowering others is often neglected for those of us who lead.   Why is that?

1.  We are too afraid we have not equipped a person enough to take the lead.
2.  Many of us are control freaks and just can't let go.
3.  We are afraid that a person might do the task better than us.
4.  Some of us are afraid to empower because we don't want the person to fail.
5.  Perhaps you have empowered others and they have abused their opportunity.

Empowering others certainly involves taking a risk.  It can be a very vulnerable thing to do. But passing the baton of leadership, is essential for any organization or ministry to have smooth transitions and healthy legacies.

So let me respond to these five excuses:

1.  We need to be more intentional about preparing those under our leadership with the skills to take over.  This may mean letting go a little at a time.  As people are faithful with a little they can be given much.
2.  For those of us who are control freaks, we just need to get over it.  The reality is that people are going to fail, and sometimes people are going to do it better.  Think about this metaphor.  How would you like to still be running behind your grown child holding onto the their two wheel bike to keep them from falling?   You would be pretty exhausted.  Let's not forget the joy in our child's face when they rode that two wheeler for the first time, without you holding on.
3.  There can be great freedom in empowering others, because it shifts not only authority but responsibility.
4.  What I have discovered is that empowering others increases our own empowerment.  What do I mean by this?  I have discovered that people so appreciate given the opportunity to lead, they respect the leader who gave them that opportunity even more.