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Ownership in a Rule-Driven World

Following all the rules… but still getting it wrong.

Organizations love processes. And for good reason: they create consistency, mitigate risk, and ensure traceability.

The problem is when the procedure becomes the goal. Then you risk performing all the right steps — and still failing the outcome the procedures were meant to serve in the first place.

We’ve all seen it:

  • Rigid processes replace initiative and judgment.
  • Teams focus on checking the boxes rather than solving the problem.
  • People say “we followed the protocol” as if that excuses the failure.

When people stop thinking because a rule exists, the system becomes brittle. True leadership means ownership, not hiding behind the process to deflect accountability.

In complex situations, doing things ‘by the book’ can feel safer than using judgment — but it also leads to failure when the book doesn’t fit the situation.

#Leadership #OrganizationalCulture #Accountability