If you are in a management or leadership position, you know that the work you put out is only as good as that of the people working beneath you. From your position, you can see the inner workings of a department, and more than anyone who is involved in the function itself, you will be able to see how all the parts interact. It is also easy for you to see how easy this machine can get bogged down, and empowerment, through a variety of means, is the way that many managers look to circumvent this.

Empowerment is a very real work place concept, and it is one that has served many managers well. Essentially, it is the mechanism where your workers, no matter what their position or their duties find that they are in a place to make a change for the better. Simply by knowing that they can make a difference can spur people towards greater goals and better work, but while some work places have this happen automatically, others need to cultivate it. If you are in the later category, you'll soon see that empowerment can be cultured and encouraged, and one way to do this is with business gifts.

Business gifts are presents from a manager to his subordinates and though they can take a wide variety of forms, essentially, they are methods whereby you show appreciation to them for work that they have done well. Don't think of unique executive gifts as simply a way to reward good behavior; instead, think of it is as encouraging good work to come. This works in a way to make your employees feel both more secure that the actions that they are taking are the right ones, and they will also work to further similar behavior from other employees.

When you are giving out performance reviews, think about what employee action that you have seen that might warrant business gifts. While you should also think about things like who has had a highly level of productivity over the quarter, you should also think about the idea of who has shown a great deal of initiative as well. There are many things that you can reward, so think about making sure that you are in a position to observe this.

When you are considering distributing unique executive gifts, really talk to your employees and in regard to what they would like. Take some time to get to know them and their goals; when it comes to empowerment, always ask what they want to get out of the company and figure out how they can get there. Also, remember that it doesn't hurt to be extravagant if you can afford it. Similarly, remember that raises and bonuses are always great options if you can afford them. Be honest about why they are being given, and you'll soon notice a lot of improvement throughout the department.

If you are in a leadership role, make sure that you take some time to show your employees how valued they are, and that you also reinforce what actions are good ones that you want them to take.