The power of agency by Frederick A. Miller and Judith H Katz

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To help give employees the power, influence, and voice necessary to truly excel in their workplace, organizational development experts Miller and Katz reveal the importance of agency and offer practical advice on how to achieve it.

With more knowledge workers entering the workplace, many are being stifled by traditional employee-manager relationships that hamper their ability to fully contribute and feel engaged at work. And in a constantly changing and competitive world of work, organizations must evolve to keep up with worker satisfaction or else face a decrease in performance and loss in talent.The solution? Enabling your employees to exercise their individual agency in the workplace. Through an actionable roadmap that highlights common pitfalls and practical steps necessary for establishing a culture of greater agency, this book will provide individuals, teams, managers, and leaders with concrete ways to clarify their current level of agency and identifies specific actions they can take to exercise greater agency.

Here are key lessons from The Power of Agency: Cultivating Autonomy, Authority, and Leadership in Every Role:

1. Take ownership of your actions: True agency begins with recognizing that you have control over your responses and decisions. Taking ownership helps build confidence and fosters a sense of purpose.

2. Autonomy is key for empowerment: By cultivating autonomy, you give yourself and others the freedom to make decisions, which enhances motivation and accountability.

3. Leadership is not a title but an approach: Leadership is about the influence you have regardless of your position. Anyone can lead by demonstrating initiative, responsibility, and inspiring others.

4. Embrace uncertainty and risk: Agency requires the courage to step into the unknown and take calculated risks. Embracing uncertainty fosters growth and allows for new opportunities to emerge.

5. Focus on trust and collaboration: Building strong, trusting relationships within a team encourages collaboration and creates an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.

6. Develop emotional intelligence: Understanding and managing your emotions is essential for exercising agency. It helps you navigate challenges and make better decisions.

7. Create a culture of growth and development: A key component of agency is fostering an environment where people are encouraged to learn, experiment, and grow. This enables both personal and organizational success.

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