Meetings feel productive when the ideas flow and everyone nods along. But what happens at the end of the meeting? If no one knows the next steps or who’s responsible for what, all those great ideas won’t pan out.

Karen Hurt and David Dye, the founders of Let’s Grow Leaders, say most teams don’t struggle with ideas — they struggle with ownership and follow through. On your team, this might be as simple as someone saying, “I’ll take this one,” or your boss sending a quick post-meeting recap with deadlines. Ownership doesn’t have to be complicated, but it’s necessary for keeping things moving. How can you make ownership more of a habit? We share some guidance from Dye and Hurt in this issue of PromoPro Daily.

What It Means To Practice Ownership
Dye and Hurt say ownership is essentially making sure that good intentions become clear responsibilities. When ownership is clear, work moves. People know what’s theirs, and no one does double work. There’s accountability without chasing, and when something is off, it’s easy to spot early. By practicing ownership, Hurt and Dye say you can turn aligned ideas into concrete actions and avoid frustration and delays.

To make ownership a real habit:

  1. Use your phrase. This could vary depending on the conversation. For example, you could ask, “Who will do what by when, and how will we know?” Ask it before the conversation ends.

  2. Write it down. Dye and Hurt say you should always document ownership, share it and reference it. It should never be left in the air.

  3. Clarify the “how will we know.” Maybe there’s an update or a handoff. Something isn’t done until it’s visible, they say. Is there a handoff? An update? A signal? Decide what works for your team and be consistent.

  4. Model accountability. Be sure to show what good looks like. Dye and Hurt recommend owning your own next steps out loud.

  5. Don’t assume silence means agreement. They suggest asking directly: “Is this clear? Is this realistic?” Give people an opportunity to raise questions or express their concerns.

Making ownership a habit isn’t about micromanaging but about making sure everyone on your team is on the same page. By practicing this habit consistently, you can end meetings with more clarity and improve follow-through on your team.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Karin Hurt and David Dye are the founders of Let’s Grow Leaders. They are internationally recognized leadership experts who help human-centered leaders achieve breakthrough results.