3 Key Strategies to Cultivate an Own IT Mindset in Your Leadership

In last week’s newsletter, I shared my journey toward embracing an Own IT mindset. It's a commitment to taking full responsibility for everything within my influence. This week, I’m excited to share three specific strategies that can help you adopt and embody this mindset, which will unlock new potential in both your leadership and your team.

1. Self-Reflection: Begin with Honest Assessment

• Why it matters: Ownership starts with self-awareness. Acknowledging our strengths and areas for growth helps us better understand how our actions contribute to outcomes.
• How to do it: Make self-reflection a daily or weekly practice. Ask yourself: "What could I have done differently to improve this situation?" or "How can I better support the team’s success next time?" Documenting these reflections, whether in a journal or brief notes, will help you track your growth and recognize patterns.

2. Transparent Communication: Own Your Mistakes Publicly

• Why it matters: When leaders openly admit their mistakes, it creates an environment of trust and accountability. It encourages others to feel safe in taking ownership of their actions without fear of blame or retaliation.
• How to do it: The next time something doesn’t go as planned, take the lead in owning it. Be candid with your team about the misstep, share the lessons learned and outline steps for moving forward. By owning up to your part, you’re setting a powerful example that shows your team it’s okay to make mistakes. And one of our goals is to always learn from those mistakes.

3. Empower Others to Lead: Delegate Ownership, Not Just Tasks

• Why it matters: Ownership is most impactful when it’s shared. Encouraging your team to take charge of their projects boosts engagement, accountability and innovation.
• How to do it: When delegating, don’t just assign tasks—give your team members ownership of outcomes. Empower them to make decisions, solve problems and be accountable for the results. Make sure they understand what is being asked of them, ensure they have all the resources necessary to succeed and then get out of their way. Check in for guidance, but resist the urge to micromanage. When they succeed, recognize their achievements, and when things go off course, debrief together to find solutions.

Adopting an Own IT mindset is more than a leadership tactic—it’s a transformative approach that can elevate you and your team. By starting with self-reflection, embracing transparency and empowering others, you’ll create a culture where ownership is the foundation of success.

What’s been your experience with these strategies? Have they impacted your leadership or team? I’d love to hear your thoughts and continue the conversation!

Also, if you know someone that would benefit from this weekly leadership newsletter, please pass it on to them. Leadership is a journey best taken together. When we share knowledge, we amplify our ability to drive meaningful change. Not just within ourselves, but across our teams and organizations. It also has a positive impact on our families and ultimately upon our wider community.

Stay tuned next week, where we’ll explore ways to foster an environment that not only supports but actively encourages a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.