Enablement is more than just a buzzword. Enablement is the process of equipping individuals or teams with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to perform effectively and achieve desired outcomes. It involves training, support, and ongoing reinforcement to ensure that skills and strategies are effectively implemented in practice. In today's fast-paced world, where change is the only constant, simply handing out knowledge or skills is about as effective as handing a toddler a crayon and expecting a masterpiece. Enablement takes a comprehensive approach that’s all about getting people to not just survive but thrive.
Employee Enablement: A report by Betterworks states that 52% of employees feel they receive adequate performance enablement (including goal-setting and ongoing feedback). This group shows higher productivity and a better overall experience, while 32% want enablement but don't have it (Betterworks, 2023).
Enablement isn’t just about what you learn; it’s about how you apply that knowledge to your job. It’s like Kendrick Lamar saying to training and teaching, “They not like us!” Enablement is in a league of its own, bringing the flair and finesse that other methods can’t touch.
Enablement is critical, and here’s why:
1. Enhanced Engagement:Employees who feel supported and enabled are more likely to be engaged. Research shows that organizations in the top quartile for employee engagement experience a 23% higher profitability and 81% lower absenteeism (Wellsteps, 2023). You know the saying, “Happy employees = happy customers”? It’s true! When team members are empowered, they’re more invested in their work, and that enthusiasm is contagious.
2. Increased Productivity:When employees are equipped with the right tools and resources, they can work like a well-oiled machine. According to Gallup, highly engaged teams (often a result of effective enablement) are 17% more productive than their less-engaged counterparts (Gallup, 2023). Enablement helps remove roadblocks so that productivity skyrockets.
3. Continuous Learning:Enablement creates a culture where learning never stops. 78% of managers reported that implementing training and enablement programs led to increased revenue (Mentor Group, 2023). Employees are encouraged to explore new knowledge and skills, like a kid in a candy store—except here, they’re racking up achievements instead of cavities.
4. Adaptability:Enablement equips employees with the skills and mindset to embrace change like a pro. They can roll with the punches, just like how we all learn to navigate life’s ups and downs.
5. Alignment with Organizational Goals:Enablement ensures everyone is aligned and clear on what and how to move forward. When employees understand how their roles contribute to the bigger picture, it fosters a sense of purpose that can’t be beat. It’s like being in a band where everyone knows their part, and together they create a chart-topping hit!
Let’s talk about training. Don’t get me wrong; training is important. It’s the intro level of a video game: you have to get through it to unlock the fun stuff. But it’s not the whole enchilada.
Training is a focused, task-oriented endeavor aimed at building specific skills for repeatable tasks. It is typically structured and formalized, involving specific sessions designed to teach employees how to perform particular tasks or functions.
Think of training as that well-structured, serious friend who has a five-year plan for everything. It’s formal and specific.
Training is step-by-step instructional interaction showing exactly what to do. You go through a series of exercises that allow you to build basic skills and continue, in the best scenarios, additional training to support advanced skill development.
But here’s the kicker: training can be a bit one-dimensional. It’s great for immediate skills, but it lacks the full scope support of enablement. Here are some reasons why training sometimes falls flat:
Short-Term Focus: Training is like the quick fix of the learning world. It’s effective in the moment but can leave you high and dry when it’s over. Once the training session is done, what next? It’s like eating a healthy salad and then bingeing on pizza afterward.
Lack of Context: Training can sometimes feel like a one-size-fits-all sweater—awkward and ill-fitting. Without context, employees struggle to understand how their newfound skills fit into the grand scheme of things.
Inflexibility: Training programs can be rigid, much like your grandma’s rules about when to eat dessert. They may not account for individual learning styles or the diverse needs of employees.
Now, let’s pivot to enablement. Enablement is the full buffet—it’s the all-you-can-eat experience that comes with every topping you could ever want. Its primary goal is to empower individuals to perform and achieve their goals consistently.
Enablement includes training but goes far beyond it. Here’s what sets enablement apart:
Holistic Support: Enablement provides ongoing support and resources, making sure individuals can overcome challenges.
Tools and Resources: Enablement provides employees the tools they need to succeed, from tech to training materials—think handing them a Swiss Army knife, and explaining what all those tools are and how and when to use them.
Employee Empowerment: Enablement focuses on identifying and removing obstacles that may hinder performance. Employees know what to do, so when they hit a roadblock, they know it is time to raise the flag of concern and request support.
Continuous Learning: Enablement encourages a culture of continuous learning, where employees are like curious cats—always exploring and learning new things.
Reinforcement: Enablement plans must include reinforcement by a knowledgeable person. Remember you need to show someone something new 3-8 times for it to stick. No more one and done training!
Teaching is all about imparting broad knowledge, fostering creativity, and developing critical thinking skills. Think of being at a rock concert where the teacher is the lead singer, and the students are the adoring fans soaking it all in.
For instance, a teacher might discuss wars that have been fought, exploring the various factors that contributed to these conflicts. If you’re lucky, they’ll engage your critical thinking by asking you to consider why the war happened and how it could have been avoided. This process often dives deep into the perspectives of both sides and the historical and cultural values that influenced the players in the conflict. It’s like getting the behind-the-scenes scoop on a blockbuster movie.
But here’s where enablement turns the game on its head. It takes teaching to the next level by ensuring learners can apply what they’ve absorbed in real-world scenarios. It’s about creating an environment where individuals can practice skills, receive constructive feedback, and continue to grow.
Enablement provides the necessary support and resources for individuals to apply their learning effectively. After a teaching session on historical conflicts, enablement might involve:
Practical Application: Providing students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world situations, such as engaging in debates or simulations that reflect the complexities of historical events. Or, using the concepts learned about the motives behind the war to de-escalate a peer-to-peer conflict.
Feedback and Support: Offering constructive feedback and support helps individuals refine their understanding and skills. In essence, having a coach who’s always in your corner, cheering you on.
If you were to think about teaching, training, and enablement through the lens of a video game, it might sound something like this:
Training is leveling up in the game by grinding through the same quests over and over, honing your skills with each attempt until you finally level and advance. It’s all about mastering the mechanics.
Teaching represents reading about characters, learning their skills, motivations, and relationships. It’s deepening your understanding by diving into a well-written backstory.
Enablement, however, encompasses mastering additional game levels, receiving reports on skills that still need development to advance in the game, collaborating with other players to advance levels, demonstrating proficiency of your skills on the new levels, and revisiting previous levels to keep your skills sharp and close any skill gaps over time.
Together, these elements create a robust framework for continuous learning and growth, ensuring that individuals not only acquire skills but also excel in their application within a supportive environment. By prioritizing enablement, organizations can foster a culture of empowerment that drives success and innovation, ultimately leading to a more engaged and productive workforce.
So, let’s raise a glass (Pink style) to enablement—the game-changer that’s here to level up the workplace!
Betterworks. (2023). State of Enablement Report 2023. Retrieved from Betterworks Website
Gallup. (2023). State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report. Retrieved from Gallup Website
Wellsteps. (2023). Employee Engagement Statistics: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from Wellsteps Blog
Mentor Group. (2023). The Power of Training and Enablement in Driving Business Growth. Retrieved from Mentor Group Insights