Have you ever been in a situation ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ธ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐โฆ ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐?
You hear responses like:
- โOh, I thought someone else was handling that.โ
- โWas that my responsibility?โ
- โI didnโt realize it was urgent.โ
And just like that, the task falls through the cracks.
As leaders, this is a silent productivity killer. ๐ก๐ผ ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ป๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
So how do you turn passive listeners into active owners?
One of my favourite is ๐ข.๐ช.๐ก. ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฑ โ a powerful way to ensure tasks donโt just get discussed, but actually get done:
1. Outline Clear Responsibilities โ โDavid, youโll lead this, and Priya, youโll support.โ
2. Write It Down โ Assign tasks visibly in a shared document, email, or project board.
3. Normalize Accountability โ โLetโs check in next week to review progress.โ
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ?
โ
It removes ambiguity โ everyone knows their role.
โ
It reinforces commitment โ verbal agreements get forgotten, written ones donโt.
โ
It shifts the mindset โ from โIโll tryโ to โI own this.โ
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐: People donโt avoid responsibility โ they avoid unclear expectations.
So the next time a task lingers in limbo, donโt assume someone will pick it up โ O.W.N. it.
Because leadership isnโt just about delegating โ itโs about creating a culture of ownership.
How do you ensure accountability in your team?
Letโs swap strategies.
Abhishek Rajput
#trainers #managers #leaders
