In our second foundational class, Our Community Serves, we talk about shifting from blame to ownership. It’s easy to point fingers when things go wrong, to focus on what others should have done differently, but blame keeps us stuck. Ownership, on the other hand, moves us forward.
Actual ownership is about growth. It means choosing to learn from every situation, even when we’re not primarily at fault. Ownership asks, “What part of this can I own?” and in doing so, it empowers us to grow, adapt, and lead with accountability.
Even if someone else is 98% responsible for a situation, there is still 2% we can own. Within that 2% is where the real learning happens.
The benefits of taking ownership
Ownership isn’t about self-blame—it’s about self-empowerment. When we choose to own even a small part of a challenge, we shift from being passive recipients of circumstances to active participants in our own development. Here’s what happens when we lean into ownership:
- We grow faster. When we focus on what we can control, we accelerate our learning curve.
- We build trust. People respect those who own their part, no matter how small.
- We create better outcomes. Owning our 2% allows us to adjust, adapt, and influence situations rather than waiting for others to change.
- We shift our mindset. Instead of feeling stuck in frustration, we gain agency over our own growth.
shifting to an ownership mindset
Developing a mindset of ownership takes practice. It requires us to pause, reflect, and ask better questions. When we find ourselves in challenging situations, here are some powerful questions to help shift perspective:
- What was I pretending not to know in this situation?
- How could I have approached this differently?
- What assumptions did I make that may not have been true?
- What can I learn from this, regardless of who was “right”?
- How do I want to show up next time?
Ownership isn’t about taking on responsibility that isn’t ours—it’s about refusing to let any situation be a wasted opportunity for growth. Whether our piece of the problem is 50% or 2%, there is always something to learn, and in that learning, we become better leaders, partners, and teammates.
Where could you take 2% more ownership today?
To learn how to take ownership further, register for our second foundational class, Our Community Serves*. For those interested in embedding this knowledge into their workplace culture, visit our Partnership page.
*Note: You must be an alumnus of Our Community Listens to register for Our Community Serves.
