What does OWNERSHIP look like for a 3M Chem Ops People Leader?
How leaders take responsibility and inspire others to do the same
Ownership is taking responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks—and encouraging others to do likewise.
Leaders who model ownership drive strong, reliable results.
Ownership actions:
Take responsibility for team outcomes, not just individual work.
Clearly define what success looks like.
Follow through on commitments and expectations.
Address obstacles instead of working around them.
Stay accountable when results fall short.
Reinforce a results-focused mindset.
“Results matter—and we own them together.”
Ownership motivates leaders to improve how work gets done.
Ownership actions:
Take responsibility for identifying improvement opportunities.
Encourage the team to own problems and propose solutions.
Avoid blaming people or systems.
Use data to understand gaps and root causes.
Act on improvement ideas rather than waiting.
Persist in solving recurring issues.
“We don’t wait for someone else to fix it.”
Ownership reinforces clear expectations and follow-through.
Ownership actions:
Clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision rights.
Hold yourself accountable before holding others accountable.
Track commitments and progress.
Address missed expectations promptly.
Ensure follow-up and closure.
Reinforce consistent standards.
“Commitments are taken seriously here.”
Ownership builds confidence, motivation, and engagement.
Ownership actions:
Give people meaningful responsibility.
Encourage initiative and decision-making.
Trust others to own their work.
Recognize accountability and follow-through.
Coach people through challenges instead of taking over.
Develop future leaders by expanding ownership.
“I’m trusted to own my work.”
Ownership is demonstrated through ethical and respectful behavior.
Ownership actions:
Own mistakes openly and correct them.
Address issues fairly and respectfully.
Avoid deflecting responsibility.
Make decisions aligned with values.
Model ethical behavior consistently.
Reinforce accountability with respect.
“My leader does the right thing and owns it.”