Empowering Your Team to Take Ownership

Empower and engage your employees like never before!

As an entrepreneur or leader, steering your team toward peak performance and taking ownership can often feel difficult and highly frustrating. Why don’t they just do what they are supposed to do????

The key to this challenge? Instilling a sense of ownership and accountability in your team. In this blog, we’ll dive into practical strategies to lead your team to embrace their roles fully and drive your team’s and company’s success.

Pinpointing the Core Issue

In the journey to move from manager to leader and effective team management, a common stumbling block is a lack of ownership among team members. Why don’t they just accept what I’m asking them to do and do it?

Well, there are 16 reasons why employees don’t do what you want them to. Unfortunately, they are all on you. But we often blame them. But it’s not them. They are never going to be any better as a team than you are as a leader.

When your team lacks the commitment to take ownership, the task at hand for you, as a manager moving to a great leader, is to foster a culture where each member feels responsible and empowered to contribute significantly. That’s the ticket! What is the technique or leadership practice you have to change in you to achieve the change in them?

Let’s start with the first big misstep I see almost every time a team is not bought in and committed.

The Power of ‘Why’: Driving Change with Purpose

A critical element often overlooked in team management is the importance of explaining ‘why’ a change is necessary or why fixing a particular problem is crucial. Understanding the ‘why’ behind need for change or actions not only provides clarity but also significantly boosts motivation and engagement among team members.

First step. If you are taking direction from your boss, it is essential that you fully understand the “Why” behind the change or the importance of the project. If you don’t know it and own it, you cannot confidently transfer ownership to your team. You will come across as a weak leader.

Unlock Your True Potential: Speak Up, Ask Questions, and Make a Difference

Being a “team player” doesn’t mean blindly accepting every task that comes your way from above. In fact, you have the responsibility and power to shape the conversation and make a meaningful impact. Don’t be afraid to voice your thoughts, ask important questions, and shed light on the obstacles your team is facing. Seek clarity and be fully educated and personally bought in. You can’t achieve this unless you ask questions or even push back a bit if it does not make sense to you.

By doing so, you can help your boss gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and work together towards achievable goals.

If you just say yes to everything, you will continue to be pushed into commitments you’re responsible for that your team will not be committed to. Why? You’re not committed. Your team will come up short of expectations, or you will be frustrated and stressed out more often than you need to be.

You’re just doing what you are told to do? That’s weak! ?Step up, take control, and ask questions. Who, What, Why, When, How, Where and be the catalyst for positive change in your team. Gain clarity, speak your opinion. (in a respectful way) and be a more proficient critical thinker.

You will reap huge rewards and you will be fully engaged with what you are being asked to do. Even if you disagree with what is being asked, you still have to go get your team to buy in and achieve.

Well, of course, but at least you’ve asked the questions, and you have the details behind the why so that you can respond if your team asks you.

“I’m not sure” is never the answer! Know the why.

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