Empowerment is the process of gaining the freedom and resources to make your own choices and take control of your life. Empowerment is fostered by confidence, independence, and resilience, which enables you to overcome obstacles and shape your future in line with your values and aspirations.
Ways in which you can empower yourself are through the following:
Set SMART Targets: Define what you want to achieve and break it into manageable chunks, to get the most out of this, you should look at SMART goals which allow you to measure your aspirations. For further information about SMART Targets & Goals, take a look at the Self-Direction & Planning Guide.
Self Development: Learn new skills, seek further ways to educate yourself and challenge yourself! You can use LinkedIn Learning to expand your education whilst at university and gain awards to host on your LinkedIn profile. You can also learn new skills through joining a society through the Union of Students.
Resilience: Building your resilience skills can help you to take onboard any setbacks and learn from the experiences. For further information take a look at our Resilience Guide.
Well-being: Taking care of yourself, both physically and mentally, supports you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth, providing yourself the support to succeed. For more information on Well-Being, please visit Student Health & Wellbeing.
Many of the practices that foster inclusivity can also be used to empower others. Actively listening, seeking others' opinions in conversations, and involving them in decision-making processes can encourage greater engagement in both individual discussions and group work.
Being a supportive but empowering peer does not mean solving every problem for someone or shielding them from challenges. Instead, it involves offering encouragement, guidance, and confidence while allowing them to take ownership of their decisions and grow through their experiences.
Bakhshandeh, B., Rothwell, W.J. and Zaballero, A.G. (2024). Understanding People’s Motivation and How to Delegate. Productivity Press eBooks, pp.160–188. doi:https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003413493-7.
