Empower Employees to Succeed

"Let individuals create real wealth, empower them, create something that they can leave for their children."1

Change and adaptability are the essence of success. Ability to change in conjunction with optimism makes the whole progression worthwhile. Status quo, however, has its own vicious circle especially during an ongoing transformation. Although similar it is often confounded with consistency. Status quo is a 'state', whereas consistency is an 'attribute', but most importantly transmogrification is a 'need'.

To grow intellectually and be categorized as a pioneer in any business one should be open to change. To accomplish that personally, I seek such an opportunity in an organization where the culture and processes are open to adjustment. From the case I learnt that "Empowering others to act on the Vision" is an approach to integrate the concept of organization makeover in people of that organization. The empowerment phase is fundamentally important as it restores comfort in people by giving them tools to not only evaluate their own effectiveness, but also learn and question the whole process, which is very essential in any collaborative group.

Challenging Days

In Fall of 2010 I got an opportunity to lead a team of highly motivated people. I was excited. The project was challenging and it required us to operate in an absolute extra-ordinary way for the results were expected in three weeks. The predicament was to either work in a model -- create applications while upgrading the core development framework -- that we all thought would be next to impossible or extend the timelines suitably and risk the contract with one of our most crucial clients. Our situation was similar to ELP when they were deciding to purchase Grimes Inc., of course with its own, but similar, set of circumstantial questions regarding the forthcoming integration.

How did we do it?

Although organization management was dissuading us to undertake this project, I decided to go ahead and execute the project. ELP did not -

1. Provide healthy work environment (hot and humid) and thus incapability "build quality into the product "

2. Create common mission, goal

However, I ensured that my team had -

1. Freedom and challenges to innovate while finding resolutions and the 'DO IT RIGHT' the first time outlook for every question

2. Clear targets for each and every day for the complete duration of project ("Declaring Victory too soon")

In this age of innovation and creativity, I believe focus and belief towards one greater objective is an important factor that separates