Accountability & Ownership

Where are you acting as an owner versus a contributor right now?

Ownership is about more than completing assigned tasks. It's about taking initiative, influencing outcomes and thinking beyond your individual responsibilities. Employees who demonstrate ownership help teams move faster, solve problems proactively and create positive momentum across the organization. This month, explore where you feel empowered to lead and where you may need additional support or clarity.

In Your 1:1

• Discuss projects or responsibilities where the employee feels a strong sense of ownership.

• Explore opportunities where they could take more initiative or broaden their impact.

• Identify any barriers that prevent them from taking ownership, such as unclear expectations or decision-making authority.

• Agree on one opportunity for the employee to demonstrate greater ownership over the coming month.

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Managers: What to Listen For

Ownership flourishes when employees understand expectations, feel trusted, and know they have the authority to make decisions. Listen for comments such as:

• "I'm waiting for approval."

• "I'm not sure if that's my responsibility."

• "Someone else usually handles that."

• "I have ideas, but I don't know if it's my place."

Optional Follow-Up Questions

• What would "full ownership" look like in your current role?

• Where do you see opportunities to step forward more?

• Are there areas where you would like greater responsibility?

• What support or authority would help you be more successful?

• When have you felt most empowered to make decisions?

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Recommended Resources

📖 How to Take Ownership of Your Personal and Professional Life— LinkedIn Learning

🎧Accountability: Taking Ownership of Your Responsibility — Center for Creative Leadership (HRND Partner Organization)

💡 Reflect: Think about one recent situation where you moved beyond completing a task to influencing an outcome. What made the difference?

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Ongoing Monthly Check-ins

🧠 AI Awareness (Year 2)
How is AI changing expectations in your role or field?

• Where do you think AI could meaningfully improve our service delivery?

• What ethical or mission-based considerations should guide our decisions?

• What AI capability do you think OIT needs to develop next?
  
  

🔐 Security Pulse (Year 2)
What risks do you think are increasing in higher education IT right now?

• What behavior changes do we need campus-wide?

• If a major incident occurred tomorrow, where would we struggle most?

• What proactive measure would you advocate for?
  
  

☘️ Campus Updates (Year 2)
What trends or priorities are you seeing across campus that may affect OIT in the next 1–3 years?

• What partnership feels underdeveloped?

• What campus narrative are we not paying enough attention to?

• How can we strengthen trust as a strategic partner?