Although empowerment may be described in a variety of ways, its essence remains giving
employees’ control of their jobs and letting them make their own decisions and solve their own
problems. Therefore, there's no difference between empowerment and proper delegation. Therein
lies the problem; delegation has been so widely misused and abused that the term itself has
become hopelessly tarnished. The conscientious delegating manager—or honest empowering
manager—clearly defines employees' limits and keeps hands off as long as they operate within
these limits and deliver the expected results.