Take Ownership

How many times have you heard “if Bob would only take ownership of his work.”  I’ve had three discussions in the last two days with three separate people on the topic of job ownership.  This is a very talked – about subject in the world of work.  There are many variations as to what the meaning of job ownership is.  Management quite often has a different definition to that of their coworker’s.

We’ve heard the term responsibility equated to job ownership.  Take responsibility for your work.  Odds are, if you’re reading this, you get that.  Here’s another way to look at job ownership.  Think that for every service call, every project, every interaction with a customer or coworker that you have, you leave a billboard sized picture of yourself in their mind.  Think about that.  Do you want them to relate that picture of you to something good?  Or do you want them to relate it to a steaming pile of garbage?

People can try to force their view point of job ownership on you.  That’s fine, especially if it corresponds to yours.  If it doesn’t, just remember that billboard sized picture.  You do what you do, act the way you do, because you care and because you do want others to equate your picture with your work.  Not only then are you taking ownership of your work, you’re taking ownership of your self and career.