This week’s question from our portal “Ask Us Anything” comes Steven
I’m recognizing that I’ve allowed a certain amount of chaos to happen in the business so far this year, and I’m trying to reclaim control. I’ve been reading about extreme ownership, and while I understand I need to lead by example, how can I help my team members see where they need to take ownership of their shortcomings? Some of them are dealing with self-sabotage issues. What’s the best way to realign a team and help them develop this ownership mindset?
The challenge with teaching ownership and responsibility is that most people view the world through the lens of victimhood – not because they want to, but because they don’t know how to shift their perspective.
You can’t just tell someone to take responsibility if they don’t understand how to make the mental adjustment from victim to owner. They need specific tools to bridge that gap.
It’s not that people are refusing to take responsibility – they literally don’t know how to make the mental shift required. Start by teaching them the fundamental principles of moving from victimhood to ownership. Help them understand how to recognize when they’re in a victim mindset and give them practical tools to shift their perspective. When you see them not taking ownership, you can point out the victim mindset, and because they’ll have the tools to change it, they’ll know exactly what to do. This isn’t about calling people out – it’s about giving them the mental framework to see situations differently and take conscious control of their responses.
The key is to provide the tools first, then guide them in applying these tools to real situations. As they begin to master this shift in perspective, you’ll see a natural increase in ownership and responsibility across your team.
