Tri-C President: Activating Your People and Potential
Michael A. Baston discusses how organizations can build people-first cultures focused on growth
Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) President Michael A. Baston, J.D., Ed.D., explores the transformative impact of empowerment in organizational culture.
In a column published in the November 2025 issue of Smart Business Magazine, Baston argues that true empowerment goes beyond buzzwords — it's about giving individuals the authority and support to grow, lead and innovate.
"When you empower your people, you are doing exactly what the word says: giving them power," Baston wrote. "The power to grow within their jobs and careers, the power to take control of aspects of the business, the power to lead and empower others, among many other examples."
He emphasized that without an empowered workforce, organizations risk stagnation while competitors surge ahead.
He outlined three key strategies for activating people and organizational potential:
- Provoke Change: Leaders must foster a culture where change is not only accepted but expected. This involves embedding continuous improvement into strategic plans and rewarding progress.
- Recognize Potential: Effective leadership means seeing beyond current roles and envisioning what employees can become. Investing in their growth benefits both the individual and the organization.
- Communicate Relentlessly: Leaders must clearly articulate their vision and expectations. Employees need to hear how they fit into the future of the organization and what opportunities lie ahead.
Baston tied these principles to Tri-C's Vision 2030 Strategic Transformation Plan, which prioritizes "Activating People and Potential" as one of three foundational pillars. Through extensive engagement with stakeholders, the College has determined that meaningful growth and innovation hinge on an empowered, inspired workforce.
"There is no way to separate a brighter future from an empowered workforce," he said. "They are intertwined and will take place together or not at all."
Read the entire column at sbonline.com.
Baston is a regular contributing author for Smart Business Magazine. Read his most recent columns:
- Developing employees who are ready to face the future (July 2025)
- Plan ahead or be left behind (May 2025)
- Empowering your people is about more than just opening doors (February 2025)
- Nobody has a crystal ball, but you can still anticipate what's coming and prepare for it (November 2024)
- Standing still equals falling behind, no matter how big your business (July 2024)
November 10, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu