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Forbes
06-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why You Should Empower Your Employees If You Want To Succeed
Empower your employees to make decisions. Easy to say, tough to do. But it's especially important during uncertain times like these. With so much happening that's impossible to predict, it's natural for employees to be afraid to make decisions, fearing that they will be blamed if things don't work out. It's important to let them know that you trust them and you won't blame them if their idea doesn't succeed. TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie with his sister Aviator Nation founder Paige Mycoskie Pam Mycoskie TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie told me that he viewed his role as helping others do their jobs better, and he did that by telling his top people to serve everyone in their groups. He calls this approach 'servant leadership.' By that he means that he told his leadership team to help their employees develop and perform as highly as possible. He tried to influence his staff through showing them that he trusted them to make good decisions. One way he did that was by admitting his own mistakes. Blake views mistakes as a net positive to help the company learn and grow. When people know they won't be punished if their approach doesn't succeed, they are more willing to own their decisions. Blake said he showed his employees that mistakes can become opportunities because he didn't cover up his own errors. He didn't hide them or blame them on others. In his book 'Start Something That Matters" Blake says, 'If you extend more trust than you might normally be comfortable with -- and more than most business books tell you to do -- even though those mistakes will come with a cost, over the long term you'll be paid back with interest.' Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings at the New York Times DealBook Summit Held In New York City (Photo by ... More Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Getty Images Netflix is famous for empowering employees to make decisions. They strive to give employees complete information about what's going on, and complete freedom and responsibility to make decisions. Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings explains how that leads to better decision making and a more agile company. In his book 'No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention' he says, 'When you tell people exactly what to do, you remove their sense of ownership. But when they make decisions themselves, they feel more responsible for the outcome - and they're more motivated to get it right….If employees are empowered with context and trust, they can act quickly and smartly. That's how you build a culture of innovation and accountability.' As at TOMS, when Netflix staff made thoughtful, responsible decisions that were aligned with the company's goals, they weren't punished if the idea wasn't successful -- even if it cost the company millions. If they made a tough call that failed, the message was that it was a learning experience. This is a core belief at Netflix: Empowering employees to make decisions results in thoughtful risk taking, which results in innovation, which is essential for growth. Empowering Employees Isn't Affected By Political Views Chris Ruddy, chief executive officer of Newsmax. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg © 2023 Bloomberg Finance LP Political leanings of the organizations don't affect how employees are treated. Successful companies on the left and the right all learn that they thrive when they empower their employees. Newsmax was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in April. Its CEO Chris Ruddy says "The key is to hire good people and leave them alone. Everyone needs direction, and once they have the mission and the goals, a smart, experienced person figures out the plan. It's important to build a collaborative process where no one alone makes all the decisions nor tries to control. Keep lines of communication open, be flexible and let the job get done!' Strelmark CEO Hilary Fordwich in the studio Kevin Allen Strelmark CEO Hilary Fordwich explained that empowering his employees made working with them a pleasant experience: 'I can speak first hand as to how different the experience is with each and every employee. They really are so empowered. The entire team end to end is like a large family, totally and utterly supportive of each other. Media is a unique industry, so attracting talent isn't the toughest issue, it's how to retain the very best.' It's Even More Important Now Ethan Penner, Chairman of Hill Street Realty As Hill Street Realty Chairman and Greatness is a Choice author Ethan Penner says, "With a recession seemingly likely and AI threatening many jobs, financial insecurity is running high. This is the time for visionary and compassionate leadership to help people navigate to a better future." Productivity improves when people feel that they are empowered to make decisions, that their contributions are valued, and that they won't get in trouble if their ideas don't succeed. Treating your employees well is always key to a successful company. That is even more important now.
USA Today
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Adam Sandler mocked by Conan O'Brien for casual Oscars attire: 'I like the way I look'
Adam Sandler mocked by Conan O'Brien for casual Oscars attire: 'I like the way I look' Show Caption Hide Caption Timothée Chalamet, Cynthia Erivo and more arrive at the Oscars Timothée Chalamet, Cynthia Erivo and Zoe Saldana take the Oscars red carpet in style. Entertain This! Adam Sandler didn't get the dress code memo for the Oscars, and that's fine with him. The actor and comedian known for his casual wear made an unexpected fashion statement during a surprise appearance at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday night. Sandler, who wore a baby blue zip-up Aviator Nation hoodie with basketball shorts, caught the attention of host Conan O'Brien. "For such a prestigious night, it's important that everyone is properly dressed," O'Brien said, later quipping that Sandler was "dressed like a guy playing video poker at 2 a.m." "Nobody even thought about what I was wearing till you brought it up!" Sandler screamed as part of the bit. "I like the way I look because I'm a good person. I don't care about what I wear or what I don't wear." He added: "Did my snazzy gym shorts and fluffy sweatshirt offend you so much that you had to mock me in front of my peers?" In a moment of feigned indignation, Sandler threatened to storm out of the ceremony, which prompted O'Brien to apologize for his attack. "You are all welcome to join me for a game of five-on-five basketball," Sandler told the dismayed audience. O'Brien kept the jokes flowing during his opening monologue, lightly jabbing at A-list celebrities and their films while also reminding audiences what the Oscars are really about. The former late-night host introduced all the best picture nominees, including "Anora." "Anora uses the F word 479 times. That's three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón's publicist," he jabbed, referencing Gascón's controversial social media posts that resurfaced and a rough Oscar campaign for "Emilia Pérez," which went into the night with 13 nominations. O'Brien also made room for the serious, recognizing the Hollywood community behind the scenes such as crafts people, artisans, technicians and costumers, as well as what the Oscars mean to everyone involved in Los Angeles and viewers at home. "For almost a century, we have paused every spring to elevate and celebrate an art form that has the power, at its very best, to unite us," O'Brien said. "Even in the face of terrible wildfires and divisive politics, the work, which is what this is about, the work continues. And next year, and for years to come, through trauma and joy, this seemingly absurd ritual is going to be here." Contributing: David Oliver, USA TODAY
