How to Help Your Team to Take Ownership?
If you want your team to take more ownership, get better at delegation, and make subtle shifts in your communications.
Most people think improving communication means talking more, being clearer, or adding more enthusiasm. But the truth is, real improvement often comes from subtle shifts in how we phrase things.
This week, I’ve been reflecting on the small changes that make a big difference. These aren’t radical overhauls—they’re slight adjustments in how we speak and respond.
And the impact? Huge. With just a few shifts, you can go from giving directions to sparking ownership, helping your team take ownership and engage fully.
Here are five subtle shifts to try:
Shift from “I” to “you” when praising: Swap “I think you did a great job” with “You did a great job.” It’s subtle but moves the focus from your approval to their accomplishment. They start to see it as their success, not just something you noticed.
Lead with curiosity, not solutions: Instead of saying, “We should try…” or “I think we need to…,” try “What if we tried…” or “I wonder if…” This subtle shift opens the conversation and invites others in, making it about shared problem-solving instead of just taking direction.
Ask for the “why” behind their ideas: Swap approval phrases like “That’s a great idea” with “Nice! What led you to that idea?” It shows you value their thought process, not just the result. And it encourages them to take full ownership of their reasoning.
Turn mistakes into learning opportunities: When things don’t go as planned, skip “What went wrong?” and try “What did we learn?” This phrasing moves the focus from blame to growth, which empowers them to adapt and take responsibility for future outcomes.
Reflect their language back: If someone says, “I think I could improve here,” respond with “You’re thinking of improving in that area?” Reflecting on their words shows you’re truly listening and respecting their perspective. It keeps them engaged and accountable to their goals.
Each of these small shifts brings people in rather than just pushing tasks down the line.
Over time, they add up to stronger communication, deeper trust, and more team members who feel valued and ready to step up.
Next week, we’ll talk about how subtle shifts in our attention create significant success or failure.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. Have you made a communication change that’s made a difference? Reply to this email and share—it’s your stories that keep this community growing and learning.
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