When Doing Your Job Isn’t Enough – The Importance of Taking Ownership

Doing a project task does not mean that you are taking responsibility for the project.

When you get the job done you are meeting expectations. Ownership involves seeing the bigger picture, recognizing problems, providing solutions and making sure that the results are valuable.

I think one of the most overlooked traits in a professional setting is taking ownership. You don’t necessarily need to be a team leader or manager to demonstrate accountability and ownership. At times it begins with small responsibilities and making sure it is done correctly.

For instance, if one employee wants to see a problem, another employee will go ahead and point it out and propose a solution that may help to solve the problem. They are not saying “that isn’t my job,” but instead envision how they can work towards the end goal.

Some practices that can foster ownership:

• Accept both success and failure of your work
• Discuss solutions instead of just problems
• Don’t wait for follow-ups, learn to communicate proactively
• Be able to grasp the contribution made by your own work to the common business objectives
• Identify ways to enhance current work processes

 

Ownership doesn’t imply taking ownership of everything, of course. It also involves understanding when to work together, seek assistance and let others know about your boundaries.

What is the meaning of taking ownership to you? Let’s discuss in the comments!