“In the long-run we shape our lives and shape ourselves. The process never dies. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Leaders take ownership of their current situation and circumstances. As leaders, we need to recognize that our lives, families, businesses, and so on are all structured perfectly for the results we’ve been getting. Changing results begins with owning the results you’ve gotten and initiating changes based on what you can control.
I have an ownership philosophy… it goes like this: “I am 100% responsible to myself, for myself, for my actions as opposed to my intentions, for my results to the people I serve, for the atmosphere I create by my attitude, and for the decisions I make that determine the consequences in my life.” So, what does taking ownership really mean? It means to renounce blame, which is the single greatest symptom of non-accountability; to refuse to blame anyone or anything for any reason; to refuse to believe that other people are doing things to you that makes you a victim of things over which you have no control.
Two questions every leader should be asking are:
- What is my part? Focusing on yourself is the only way to take back ownership… more specifically, your self-leadership transcends anything anyone has ever done to you. This question is not one of self-blame which is self-recriminating. Rather, it is a vigorously analytical and self-affirming step toward growth and change for the better.
- What can I do to make myself and everything that concerns me better? Look inward. Revisit what you see as your greatness. Know your core values. Ensure you align what you do with what matters most. Establish your priorities based on your core values. Initiate around your greatness on what matters most. You will find that when you know what matters most, you can live a life that most matters. I love what Ken Blanchard says, “As a leader, the most important earthly relationship you can cultivate is your relationship with yourself.” Cultivating a relationship begins with looking inward.
Take ownership!
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