The 21^st Century has seen a fundamental shift in our understanding of what motivates people and one of the most enduring messages has been that employee empowerment is a powerful weapon to harness human capital. The empowerment of employees involves shifting control and power away from organisational hierarchies by granting employees discretion and command over their day-to-day activities and giving them a voice in wider organisational decisions. The resulting feeling of ‘psychological empowerment’ reflects a powerful form of motivation characterised by active involvement in one’s job. Furthermore, the benefits of empowerment are evident in increased performance and job satisfaction.¹