Use brainstorming to explore the concept of empowerment.

a. Write each letter of the word empowerment in a vertical column on a sheet of paper or on the classroom chalkboard.

b. Think of several words that begin with each letter.

c. Write the words next to the appropriate letter.

By increasing employees’ participation in decision making, empowerment makes workers feel more involved in their jobs and the operations of the organization. While empowerment may seem like a commonsense idea, it is a concept not found universally in the workplace. If you had empowerment in your job, how would you describe it?