May 16, 2010

Empowerment Vs. Devaluation

Columns

The question of today is: Are you empowering or devaluing?

Empowerment is finding the best in people and helping them pursue their goals without questioning their abilities.

Devaluation is writing a person off because you might believe they are too young, inexperienced, or otherwise unable to achieve their dreams.

If you can help a young person become something great, why not do it?

Here are some ways to empower those around you:
  • Teach someone a skill you know
  • Provide your services anywhere that they are valuable
  • Be enthusiastic
  • Encourage others in their pursuits

1 comment:

Unknown said...

There is so much the experienced can learn from the young and inexperienced: a fresh perspective, raw emotion, empathy, and insight into the complexities of human nature and thought are a few examples. I am often impressed by the maturity and intellectual acuity of those younger than me. I believe there's always something that others do better than yourself, and thus there is no logical way to devalue somebody. When taken as whole persons, none is superior to the other.

Recognize that younger people often look up to you, and if you are trying to help them but they aren't getting it, try a new approach that might make more sense to them - don't blame them as if they are inherently incapable. I was guilty of this once, and it was horrible.

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