Leadership. It seems everyone is a leader, probably because there isn’t a widely accepted institute that can bestow the title on you, with which there is no question.  I have met my share of medical doctors, for instance, but never had one who told me they didn’t go to medical school, but that they had read a lot of books.  “Leader” is a designation that must be earned, and this is entirely through one’s actions.  In my line of work, I have had the opportunity to work with many folks who claimed to be leaders, and more than a few who I would say are genuine in this regard.  One thing that I have found that winnows out the legit from the wannabes is that true leaders own their situation, whether that situation is one of fun and pride or a run and hide doesn’t matter.  Leaders own the situation.

One of the greatest mistakes I see leaders make is making difficult decisions and standing by them. We all know that leaders must sometimes make unpopular choices for the greater good of the team or organization, but no one on this side of heaven is perfect, and our decisions can be (and often are) flawed.  Owning these decisions, especially when they lead to mistakes, shows integrity and courage. It sends a message that leadership is not about being perfect but about being accountable and committed to continuous improvement.

This probably goes without saying, but taking ownership acknowledges that you are in control. If you choose to blame someone else, you are telling whoever will listen that you are no longer in control. You have passed the buck and the control of the situation as well – and if someone else steps in and fixes it, they are now seen as the person who took a situation you lost control of and righted it.  No one will remember you as the one who didn’t screw anything up; you will be remembered as the one who couldn’t fix the issue.

Leadership is influence, I think everyone can agree with that, and you can’t have influence if you don’t have solid relationships.  And you can’t have solid relationships if you are unwilling to own your mistakes. If you are unwilling to say “This was on me. I own that and will work to be sure that it doesn’t happen again,” you miss an essential aspect of leadership. But it doesn’t stop there.  Just as anything that involves people, ownership must be genuine. Actions speak louder than words. If you immediately say, “That’s on me—I own that!” congratulations, you have gotten past your first step. Now you must act.  No action and you are not only not owning anything, but you are also putting yourself out there as a fraud.  If you walk your talk though, others will follow.