Taking Ownership – I got this!

Originally published in AUGI World Magazine – April 2017

We all “own” a lot of things. A car, a house, a pet (or are we just roommates?). The things we own are plentiful and we keep gathering more and more. We boast in the things we own. We protect, admire and cherish the things we own. We also are feel trapped, regret and other emotions related to what is “ours”. When we step into other people’s areas of ownership, they often get defensive, protective or admonish us to stay away. The word “mine” seems to be embedded from early toddler days. “Mine!” is heard so often in these early years and sometimes into adulthood with an attitude seen, but without the expression heard. It is often seen as a negative attitude, hoarding, excluding others or being selfish to remind others that “that is mine”.

But ownership is not bad. Ownership attitudes are good for a Tech Manager to have for their duties and oversight areas. It is a mind set on action. Not waiting for someone else to step up. We need to own things, own up to things, own the quality of our work and own the outcome. We need to have healthy pride of ownership in the areas we are responsible for. We need to extend these areas with a “come alongside” embrace with others in an expanding technology world. So when is it healthy to say “mine”? When is it good to take ownership? Let’s ponder that.

The Positives of Taking Ownership

Taking ownership shows others that you are willing to become proactive in your efforts. It tells them that you can handle the work and that they should trust you. It tells them that you are prepared to act and to take accountability for your actions. You own the results of any action or inaction for that area. This includes unexpected results of things that might be out of your control. You own this too. You will take initiative to maintain and improve this area. You are also taking responsibility and accountability for the execution and follow through on items in this area. With ownership comes responsibility. With responsibility comes accountability. With accountability comes reward for positive progress (and negatives when things fail). Rewards may include expanded influence, additional responsibilities, duties and tasks. It may mean that you have impact in more areas. It may also mean that you will be rewarded with raises and promotions. Most companies reward those that are proactive in spotting issues, finding the root cause of problems and moving toward solutions.

The Negatives of Taking Ownership

You can and will be blamed for things going wrong. You may see negative attitudes for systems failures. You will get everyone telling you how to do your job better. Well… this will happen even if you do not take ownership of areas. Tech Managers often have a target on their backs. It comes with the job description. So why not take an ownership attitude and grab the reigns. At least then you are the master of your own fate. And as a Tech Managers you already have the talent, training and skills to do the job. If you do not take ownership, you will derail the rewards that you deserve as others may take credit, and you still are opened to blame.

When you avoid taking ownership of an area, task or process, others will notice. They will see that you fail to step forward or that you actually take a step back from the responsibility of that scope. When this happens, you will be seen as avoiding accountability, deflecting blame or just being lazy. Consistently avoiding ownership will eventually create an environment where others no longer offers you the opportunity to expand your role. Never say “That’s not my job”. It might open a door for others to take on your tasks and soon may see yourself replaced. Not good.

Of all of the perspectives that I can think of that a Tech Manager should have, the one below is near the top of the list.

Every Project is Mine

Tech Managers should act like every project is their responsibility. Each file belongs to them. Every model is their model. Every office is their office. Improving everyone’s productivity is their goal.

Taking an ownership attitude for everything that CAD/BIM touches is what a Tech Manager should be all about. Every piece of hardware is theirs. Every procedure and process is theirs. Every standard, every layer, every linetype. It all belongs to the Tech Manager.

Moving toward Ownership

In the book “The Oz Principle: Getting Results Through Individual And Organizational Accountability” authors Roger Connors, Tom Smith and Craig Hickman share that “taking personal accountability means making a personal choice to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving desired results; to see it, own it, solve it and do it.”

When a Tech Manager moves toward another level of ownership they should do it before others “assign them” this task. By taking on more than they are expected to oversee, they show initiative. Seeking responsibility increases their value. Those who are responsible for more areas prove to be more valuable to the firm.

Tech Managers who avoid taking on additional responsibility end up shedding it. They move farther and farther from the core of the business and out to the fringes. By doing this they are making themselves targets for possibly “transitioning away from the company”. This means being sacked, canned, terminated or fired, whatever term you want to use. The direction that a CAD/BIM Manager wants to be moving is toward ownership. Not away from it. By deflecting responsibility, it ends up resting on someone else’s shoulders.

Don’t Try to Own Everything

You may have an attitude of ownership for many things, but go gently when it encroaches on other staffer’s areas of oversight. Taking ownership is a feeling of responsibility and bottom line decision making for something. It is not just taking control. Don’t be a bully, a squatter or a usurper. You do not actually own everything. There are others in the firm that “own” things too. Ask to be invited in. Seek to help others. Assist where you are welcomed in and stay away from areas that seem to be closed off. No one like to have someone “take control” of their area.

Tech Management is all about seeking, accepting and embracing responsibility. Expand your area of influence by gathering responsibility for more and taking ownership of all tech issues within your firm.