🛑 The Real Reason Your Team Isn’t Taking Ownership (And How to Fix It Today)

If you’ve ever stood over a half-finished project whispering to yourself…

“Why am I the one fixing this… again?” …then friend, scoot your chair a little closer. This one’s for you — and it just might hand you back your evenings, your weekends, and yes, even your sanity.

We’re in Part 3 of the Accountability in Action series, and today we’re stepping into the conversation leaders only admit out loud when the door is shut and the coffee is strong:

👉 Why won’t my team take ownership?

Stop carrying your team’s workload alone.

If your team treats deadlines like suggestions… it’s time for a wake-up call. 🚨 Let’s fix accountability so you can stop firefighting and start leading.
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Accountability in Action

Yep. We’re going right into the heart of it.

Before we dig in, take a breath — because what I’m about to tell you will take a big weight off your shoulders: The problem isn’t you… and it isn’t them.

The real issue?

Most employees have never been taught how to take ownership. That’s not a character flaw — it’s a skill gap.

And here’s the relief:

Skills can be taught.
Skills can be strengthened.
And skills can transform your entire team.

Here’s the dagger… when everything has to go through you, your team doesn’t feel responsible for the work, they feel responsible to you. That’s not ownership, that’s compliance wearing a costume from the discount rack.

Now, take a breath… because we’re not staying in the pain. We’re heading straight into the fix.

But, before we go there…

If this series is hitting you right in your leadership soul, then you’re going to love my weekly newsletter, The Leader’s Lift — where I send you the bonus coaching, scripts, and frameworks I don’t share anywhere else.

This week you’ll get:

👉 “The Ownership Ladder: 5 Levels to Move Your Employee from Waiting to Willing.” (Only inside the email — because some goodies need a VIP room.) 🎁

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Listen to the Podcast Here:

The Slobbery Dog Toy That Explains Everything

Picture this:

Your dog waddles over, drops a slob-soaked toy at your feet, sits down, and looks at you like: 

“Well? Don’t just sit there. Fix it.” This, my friend, is exactly what a lack of ownership looks like at work. 

Not because your team is lazy, or not because they don’t care. And definitely not because they’re incapable. It’s because the environment has accidentally trained them to believe: “You think. You decide. You finish.”

They’re not helpless. They’re conditioned. And meanwhile you’re over there thinking: “I did NOT sign up to be a professional parent.”

Amen and amen.

Here are The Three Power Moves That Build Ownership Fast

If you want your team to stop waiting for you to swoop in… and finally show up like the capable adults you hired… these are your leadership moves.

1. Let Them Create the Plan - ownership doesn’t begin with a task. It begins with thinking. So the next time, ask your employee… “How do you want to approach this?” When they design the plan, they invest in the plan — and investment is the birthplace of ownership.

2. Give Real Responsibility - not pretend responsibility and certainly not micromanaged responsibility. REAL responsibility. So the next time use this sentence or one similar… “This one is yours. Let me know what support you need.” That one sentence hands them the keys to their own confidence.

3. Celebrate Wins Publicly - humans repeat what gets recognized. It’s biology, psychology and it’s just plain common sense. So when someone shows initiative — even a tiny spark — spotlight it. Public praise → public commitment → private confidence → sustainable ownership. This is the highest ROI move in the entire accountability playbook.

Final Word, for You

You deserve a team that follows through. A team that steps up. A team that stands tall on their own two feet. And you can build that team — without sacrificing kindness, compassion, or your peace.

This is your season to stop rescuing… start empowering…and create a workplace where ownership isn’t rare — it’s the norm.

I’m cheering 📣 for you!

P.S. ➡️ Listen to the Podcast here

PS: For more strategies that actually work, grab Books 1 & 2 of The Valuable Leader series and turn dependency into ownership.

• Book 1: The Valuable Leader: 7 Steps to Greater Growth, Value, and Influence – discover the framework to show up as a leader who inspires and drives results.

• Book 2: The Valuable Leader Communicates: 7 Keys to Unlock Your Voice and Connect Better With Others – learn the communication strategies that separate bosses from leaders.