• Teach it to them—verbal teaching, written processes, and testing to prove understanding are critical first steps of owning responsibility. Without this, we are committing the very bad habit of “dumpagation,” giving responsibility without the time or teaching necessary to get it done right.
• Give it to them—the teacher’s responsibility to let the student do it. This requires trust and shows gaps in the teaching or learning process.
• Help them keep it—don’t take it back, but help them figure out the problems that they have created. This tests the teacher’s love and loyalty to the student.
• Ask for improvements—once a minimum requirement is achieved with the responsibility then this becomes the next steps of growth. Few things are more encouraging to a person than being able to improve the responsibilities he has. As a leader, work hard to help your team with improvements.
• Notice a job well done or poorly done—be honest, do it regularly, be generous with your compliments and compassionate with your adjustments.

Opening Questions

1. How do you get somebody to take on responsibility?
2. The problem could be with either the giver or the taker.
3. If you are accountable for a responsibility, do you still own it?
4. Yes. Accountability should take less time than responsibility, but now the item has multiple owners.

Closing Thoughts

• How you handle failure, or the possibility of it, shows your trust level.
• Start small but keep adding.
• There is a limit, and it is not the same for everyone.