Ownership in a business goes beyond mere control over processes and people. It encompasses a mindset that drives actions, fuels passion, and fosters commitment.
When you allow your workforce to embrace an ownership mentality, you give them the opportunity to take responsibility, remain accountable, and prioritize quality and results.
Ownership Starts at Every Level
It is a common misconception that ownership belongs only to those who occupy leadership seats. In reality, ownership starts at every level within a business. The characteristic that identifies a leader is their attitude regarding accountability and commitment to building trust.
True leaders know that their role in a business doesn’t depend on their position on a piece of paper but on how dearly they want to achieve success for themselves and the organization.
The Role of Accountability
No matter the department or job description of an employee, when they take responsibility for their tasks and duties, they commit to having an obligation to the company. In this scenario, ownership entails initiative and sorting out problems before they impact the entire business. While support is always a good idea, the ultimate accountability must lie with individual employees.
Cultivating a Culture of Ownership
Creating a culture of ownership within a business doesn’t happen overnight. This goal requires consistency and commitment from top management. In 2017, Forbes published an article detailing a five-step strategy to encourage an ownership mindset across all levels of a business. These factors remain exceptionally relevant today:
- Support Freedom While Encouraging Responsibility
Empower your employees to drive change in your organization by allowing them to generate innovative ideas to improve traditional processes. By granting your workforce the freedom to contribute, you’ll soon notice a change in behavior and even customer loyalty.
- Strive to Change Mindsets
Shift the focus of your business from complete control to contribution. Encourage brainstorming sessions and the sharing of knowledge between employees. This process might stun you with the value it brings to your business.
- Embrace Values
Make it clear that the company’s ultimate success lies in the values that guide your employees. Then, continuously reinforce the significance of aligning with these values.
- Positive Reinforcement Is Key
Whenever an employee solves a problem or creates a process that better serves clients, recognize and reinforce this positive behavior. Doing so creates a unified work culture that rewards initiative.
- Celebrate Entrepreneurial Thinking
Celebrate and encourage entrepreneurial thinking in your business. Doing this will emphasize the importance of finding alternative ways and means to ensure success.
Setting the Tone for Ownership
You can only truly set the tone for ownership in your business if you lead by example. This means that you must be able to relinquish control and share your business vision with all your employees to instill a sense of inclusion and purpose.
Involvement and Problem-Solving
When you involve your teams in goal setting and planning, you help them appreciate their roles and give them a sense of ownership. In turn, this promotes decision-making and creativity. Business owners everywhere see the benefit of this strategy every day as they move further away from destructive micro-management.
Delegate Responsibility
Delegating responsibility is yet another way to cultivate an ownership mindset in each employee. When everyone in your organization feels empowered and knows how to take accountability, your business will benefit from diverse perspectives and a collective effort to solve problems.
Unlocking Hidden Potential
When you delegate responsibility, you also unlock the hidden potential within your employees. The diversity of your workforce can help you tap into underutilized skills to grow lagging areas in your business.
The True Essence of Ownership
The core of ownership has nothing to do with possessions but focuses on the willingness to “give for gain.” You can encourage ownership in your business today by giving your
employees the tools to contribute meaningfully and embrace a collective sense of responsibility. This will also help them to stay active in driving success.
The Bottom Line
An ownership mindset is a powerful weapon for any team in any organization. For more information on how to unleash ownership strategies in your business, contact Action Coach Lincoln at 402-587-6329.