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When we say that someone is empowered to make a decision, what does it really mean? A decision is a commitment by an individual of something of value, meaning that we can't undo the decision without some cost being incurred. Implicit in this definition are the questions: by whom is this commitment made, do they have the authority to make this commitment, and are they responsible for the outcome and consequences of the decision? Empowerment therefore means having the authority to decide as well as the responsibility for the outcome and consequences of a decision. However, empowerment has a second part to it. To empower means to equip or supply someone with an ability or capability to do something. Therefore, to truly empower someone to make a decision is to mean that we have given them, first, the capability to make a decision, and then, second, granted the authority and responsibility to make the decision. The two - creating the capability in a child and transferring the authority to a child, for instance - are inseparable in principle; but, unfortunately, almost always disconnected in practice. And the biggest culprit of this disconnect, is the absence of any formal training in decision-making. To be empowered to make a decision means having what we call complete decision equity. Decision equity can be thought of as decision ownership and control - who "owns" the decision, including its outcome. Full or 100 percent decision equity - i.e., decision empowerment - means enjoying both the individual freedom and authority to make a decision but also fully accepting the responsibility for the consequences of the decision. For an individual, anything less than being empowered to make a decision means that at least one other person is involved in the decision in terms of commitment, authority and responsibility. For parents, determining the appropriate "decision equity share" to be held by your child is something that should be carefully considered. Used judiciously, decision equity can be your child's bridge from decision impoverishment to decision empowerment. |