Steyn, Trudie2017-09-122017-09-122001Steyn, T. (2001). Staff empowerment: creating an empowered work environment in schools. Acta Academica, 33(2), 146-167.0587-2405 (print)2415-0479 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/6862English: Recent conceptions of leadership in the school context suggest a shift from authoritarian models of decision-making towards staff empowerment. Staff thus now have decision-making powers which they lacked in the past. Principals appear to be relinquishing overt control in the interests of staff empowerment. Yet, in practice, it is possible for principals to gain more control than they had before. This article examines some of the issues involved in successfully empowering staff in schools. Not all empowerment programmes are successful and therefore the possible pitfalls in and necessary preparation for effective staff empowerment are briefly outlined. The article concludes by suggesting ways of redesigning school management in order to create an empowered school environment.Afrikaans: Onlangse beskouinge van leierskap in skole stel voor dat daar beweeg word van outoritêre besluitnemingsmodelle van leierskap na personeelbemagtiging. Personeelbemagtiging beteken dat besluitnemingsbevoegdhede aan personeel gegee word wat voorheen nie die gesag gehad het om besluite te neem nie. Dit mag voorkom of skoolhoofde beheer afstaan in die belang van bemagtiging. In die praktyk is dit egter moontlik dat skoolhoofde meer beheer oor funksies verkry as wat hulle voorheen gehad het. Hierdie artikel beskou ’n aantal kwessies wat betrekking het op suksesvolle bemagtiging van personeel in skole. Omdat nie alle bemagtiginsprogramme suksesvol is nie, word die slaggate van en voorbereiding vir bemagtiging kortliks bespreek. Die artikel sluit af met voorstelle van wyses waarop skole se bestuurstelsels herontwerp kan word om bemagtigde skoolomgewings te skep.enStaff empowermentLeadership in the schoolSchool managementDecision-making powersSuccessfully empowering staffArticleUniversity of the Free State