What is the difference between employee autonomy and employee empowerment?

At first thought they seem like the same thing. But when you look deeper, they are quite different and nuanced. 

As I mentioned in the conversation, it is a huge red flag for me to see "autonomy" in a job description. I feel like it is a code word for, "You will be left free floating with no direction or support. Good luck."

I had the good fortune of having a full panel of Canadians. Glady Baradaran, Danica Virginia Meredith and Kondwani Mwase (who was SO gracious as I tried to say his name correctly) were amazing to have a partners in this discussion. They jumped right and went with it. 

What do you think about empowerment and autonomy? Do you think companies use them interchangeably? Would you ask for clarification if someone used one of them to describe their management style?

Connect with the panelists:
Glady Baradaran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glady-baradaran-msc-od-6238071a/
Danica Virginia Meredith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danicavm/ 
Kondwani Mwase: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kondwani-mwase/ 
Dr Robyn Odegaard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynodegaard/

Want a summary of the five Quick Hits I post every week, plus the links to the LinkedIn pages of each of the panelist to show up in your in-box every week? Just let me know where to send it: https://drrobynodegaard.com/quick-hits-notifications/

#QuickHits are designed to exercise your brain by letting you listen in on an unscripted conversation to get other people's thoughts on pertinent subjects. If you would like to join a conversation or have a topic you would like to hear discussed, please message me. https://www.DrRobynOdegaard.com    

#empowerment  #autonomy