Advice for Small Business from Steven Covey

Dr. Covey provides the following advice on how toempower employees:

1. Define a purpose. Ensure everyone in an organization understands his or her role and responsibilities. Clearly articulate to employees why heir work is important and set expectations ahead of time.

2.Promote teamwork. When employees are given a chance tocontribute ideas, better solutions emerge. Teamwork isbest recognized in a culture where everyone's voice isheard.

3.Find and inspire trust in others. By recognizing everyone's contributions to the team, dividing up tasks becomes simple. Understand that every member of a team brings valuable experience. By harnessing that experience, employees begin to feel ownership.

4. Unleash potential. While policies and procedures are important, following the rules too closely can lead to stifled ideas. Some of the best ideas come from new ways of thinking.

5. Understanding your employee's needs. To a leader, the growth of a staff is integral to the growth of the business. When a leader understands their dreams and aspirations, employees feel that they are being heard.

6. Provide recognition. As a leader, communicate worth and potential so employees can do their best work. Recognize employees for a job well done.Where: Dr. Covey's entire seminar is available in the Office Live

Seminars archives, which can be found at http://www.officeliveseminars.com.