Legendary women's basketball coach, Pat Summitt, said,"Responsibility equals accountability equals ownership. And a sense of ownership is the most powerful weapon a team or organization can have."
Many of us are hoping to achieve organizational change through a targeted group of people, that will have a ripple effect on our greater school or company culture. While the social influence is strong, the personal motivation for each participant is also key. So how can we buiid that accountabiltiy in our projects and prospects to lead to an individual sense of pride and ownership?
Crucial Learning (2023) shows us how one person speaking up can lead to greater number of participants washing their hands. Eventually, kids move from being influenced by another to owning thier actions and performing unprompted. This is similar to Buchler's (Crucial Learning Speakers, 2012) first strategy to pave the way and be first to behave in a way that you wish other to emulate. Buchler also points out the person to pave the way should be someone that can motivate and enable to help others see the benefits of the change. As i listened, several people came to mind that are considered influencers on both my work teams and on the campuses of school partners.
Grenny et al. (2013) tells of a farming community that did not embrace an idea that would have made them more profitable. The message was enticing, but the messenger was not. He was not one of them and not someone they trusted with their livelihood. This is a pitfall of which we all have to be aware as we attempt to shift mindsets and actions in our organizations. Afterall, one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel.
Crucial Learning. (2023, October 4). All washed up [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW0qZl6IrkI
Crucial Learning Speakers. (2012, December 17). Influencer | Cricket Buchler [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu7UBY5euBg
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change, second edition. McGraw Hill Professional.
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