What does it mean to take ownership?
Consider the following scenario: You arrive to band class the day of a playing quiz and realize your instrument is still in the trunk of your mom's car. You know that band policy is that you will receive a 0 if you do not have an instrument on quiz day. How do you react? A) You come up to Ms. Slotnick and say, "My mom forgot to take my instrument out of the car. I can't take my quiz." B) You come up to Ms. Slotnick and say, "I forgot to take my instrument out of my mom's car. I'm sorry. I understand that the policy is for me to receive a 0. Next time, I will keep my instrument on my lap or near my feet in the car to ensure this never happens again." Which answer do you think will gain you more respect? Which answer will gain you more trust? When we make excuses, when we place blame, we are denying ownership of the situation. However, when we choose to take ownership, to take responsibility for our actions, we do much more than just step up and admit what we did wrong. Let's look at option B: First, there was the statement of taking ownership: "I forgot to take my instrument out of the car." Then, there was an apology. You weren't asked to apologize; you took the initiative to do so yourself. Finally, you gave a solution to ensure the issue is fixed for next time. Taking ownership, as in Option B, shows maturity and self-awareness. It shows the other person involved that you are aware of what happened, you take responsibility for it, you are sorry and-perhaps most importantly-you have a plan to fix it for next time. Imagine the respect you will earn and the trust you will build with others with the simple act of taking ownership.
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October 2017
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