Empowerment vs. Constructive empowerment
Let us start from power, Formally power means authority do some thing. President of India has the power to give assent to a bill passed by the parliament and for that he is empowered. When we speak “empowered”, impliedly it appears that the power comes from outside. Formally you and me are empowered to certain jobs. Then are we not empowered? Yes. Then where is the scope of discussion? Discharging the duty or exercising the power depends upon competency, devotion and activation level of a person.
The activation level. Let me elaborate it. Our brain always emits electrical waves called brain waves. The brain waves are measured by EEG. Normally the frequency of brain waves vary from near zero to 30 cycles per second. Up to 4 cycles per second are called delta waves. These are low voltage, high amplitude and synchronized waves. Such brain waves are emitted when we are in deep sleep.
Four to 8 cycles per second brain waves are called theta waves. These are low voltage, high or low amplitude, desynchronized brain waves. Such brain waves are emitted during dreaming and also during day dreaming.
Eight to 13 cycles per second brain waves are called alpha waves. These are medium amplitude, low voltage, synchronized brain waves. Such brain waves are emitted at the time of relaxation.
Thirteen to 30 cycles of brain waves are called beta waves. These are high voltage, low amplitude, desynchronized brain waves. Low beta state is associated with anxieties, worries and confusion and the like. As beta frequencies become higher we take the grip of our assignments.
Beyond 30 cycles per second brain waves are called gamma waves. Every one is not fortunate to have such brain waves. Such brain waves are emitted in highly creative state of mind.
Now let us come to work situation. These are involuntary waves. But some of us are more delta oriented, some are more theta oriented, some are more alpha oriented and some are more beta oriented. Imagine an employee who may be competent, devoted but plunges down to theta state involuntarily off and on. He will become defensive and argumentative .So being innocent he may become untrustworthy/unreliable. Because of internal state one is unable to exercise the power attributed to him. What the employer is going to do here?
I am still to differentiate empowerment and constructive empowerment.
Regards.