To empower someone is to “give power to someone thus result in a greater sense of confidence/self esteem and ability to do a task.” What do you need to empower someone? I feel you need to understand that other person; you need to know what he/she likes to do and what they are interested in. Sure, you can get to know someone from looking at his/her resume but you cant get to know the strengths and weaknesses of this person without really getting to know them and becoming more than acquaintances.
There are six different words that really side with empowerment such as:
• Empowerment: to enable other (through clear instructions and trust)
• Motivation: An incentive or move to action
• Encouragement: To inspire with hope, confidence or courage
• Recognition: to acknowledge the contribution of another
• Praise: To recognize others and praise them for good work
• Appreciation: To thank others for their contribution
There are three dimensions of motivation: extrinsic rationale, relational rationale, and intrinsic rationale. These three ways are for someone to help motivate someone else.
When I think about empowerment and whom I would want to empower, I think about my little sister. I want to motivate her and give her whatever she needs to be successful in life and I want her to be able to get anything she wants if she puts her mind to it.
Another place I would want to empower somebody is at the camp I work at called The Painted Turtle. This is a camp for children with systemic diseases. Each week during the summer is a different disease week. I hope that when I am a counselor at this camp over the summer I motivate some of the campers to do what ever they put their minds to. No matter what disease they have, nothing can stop them from doing anything that a “normal” kid does.
