Beyond community development

Organisations (across the public, private and voluntary sectors) can empower staff and value them as assets, as opposed to liabilities. By encouraging greater autonomy, self-management and self-efficacy amongst staff, organisations can improve staff wellbeing and productivity.

Traditionally, organisations treat staff as liabilities, due to the need to pay salaries and pensions. Tangible assets, such as buildings and equipment, are easier to measure and value – while quantifying the value staff is more difficult. Traditional accounting methods have not kept pace with changing perceptions of employees as assets, as opposed to liabilities.

Much of the literature in this area tends to focus on the private sector, however the learnings are equally applicable to the public and voluntary sectors.