Part 1: The Power of Objective Ownership

The Ownership Series

Objective ownership means stripping your emotions, pride, and personal baggage away so you can see a situation exactly as it is. It is not easy. Pride wants you to win, ego wants you to be right, and fear wants you to avoid pain. But when you step back and look at things clearly, the right choice almost always reveals itself.

Years ago I was managing a team and had just put a new leader in place. He was likable, skilled, and everyone respected him. One day I walked out and saw him in the middle of a serious safety violation. It was so wrong I could hardly believe I was watching it. I liked this guy. He made my job easier. Letting him go would mean more stress for me and the team.

My first instinct was to protect him. I wanted to rationalize it. I wanted to think about intentions and second chances. But once I pulled myself out of the equation, the answer was clear. Someone in authority cannot break the rules and expect to stay in charge. I had to let him go.

That is what objective ownership looks like. It is not about what you want. It is about what is right.

Takeaway: objective ownership means choosing truth over comfort.

Extra Credit: Think about a time when you should have removed yourself from the decision process, but didn’t.