The Ownership Mindset™: How Empowering Your Team Drives Innovation and Growth

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.”, Simon Sinek

One of the hardest tensions I’ve had to navigate in leadership is this: How do I balance high standards with team empowerment?

I want things done well, done right and aligned with the vision. But if I’m not careful, I start hoarding decisions, unintentionally teaching my team to wait instead of act.

A recent conversation with our Member Experience team brought this into focus. What I thought would be a quick check-in turned into something deeper. They didn’t need more input from me, they needed more clarity, more trust, and more room to move.

That moment became the foundation of what I now call The Ownership Mindset™: See It, Solve It, Share It.

Let’s break it down.

Step 1: See It – Identifying Opportunities and Challenges

Great teams don’t wait for direction. They notice what’s slowing them down and they speak up. But that only happens when leaders create safety and trust.

Not long ago, someone on our team pointed out a workflow issue I hadn’t seen. They didn’t wait for me to notice, they called it out. That’s step one: seeing the problem and owning the opportunity to improve.

How to Foster This:

Encourage your team to think like owners: If you ran this company, what would you change?
Regularly ask, “What’s frustrating or slowing you down?”
Make it clear: Spotting a problem isn’t complaining. It’s leadership.

Step 2: Solve It – Taking Initiative Without Waiting for Permission

“Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.”, General Patton

One of our team members recently bought an AI tool to streamline her work. No one told her to. She just did it. Then she shared it, and suddenly, the whole team was benefiting.

That’s what ownership looks like: solving problems without waiting for permission.

How to Foster This:

Remove the fear of failure. Trying and failing beats standing still.
Set thresholds. We use the Fifty to Fix It™ rule, everyone can spend up to $50 to fix a problem on their own.
Celebrate action. Publicly recognize when someone steps up and drives change.

Step 3: Share It – Spreading Innovation Across the Organization

Innovation isn’t valuable if it stays siloed. Step three is where the impact multiplies: sharing what works.

The AI tool didn’t just help one person. It helped everyone, because it was shared. That’s how organizations grow: through knowledge that’s transferred, not trapped.

How to Foster This:

Debrief wins. If something worked, document and share it.
Create a “show and tell” rhythm. Let people demo new tools or workflows.
Model it. Leaders should champion cross-team learning.

Bonus Framework: When Decisions Need Direction, Use 1:3:1

Not every decision should be made solo. That’s where the 1:3:1 Model™ comes in:

(1) One Clear Problem
(3) Three Possible Solutions
(1) One Recommendation

It turns delegation into development. It removes bottlenecks while building decision-making skills.

Real Example:

A team member noticed slow response times. Instead of just flagging it, they brought three options, and a clear recommendation: streamline internal workflows. We said yes, and they ran with it.

Final Thought: The Power of Letting Go

The more I lead, the more I believe this: great leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating the space where your team finds the answers themselves.

When you offer clarity, trust, and real ownership, teams stop waiting. They start building. Innovating. Leading.

So here’s my challenge to you:

Give one team member a little more room this week. Trust them with a decision. Then watch what happens.

Odds are, they’ll surprise you, in the best way.

Because your best ideas? They’re already inside your team. Waiting to be seen. Solved. And shared.

Take the Next Step: 30 Days to Stronger Leadership

If you're ready to put The Ownership Mindset™ into action, grab my free 30-Day Leadership Plan. It's a simple, structured guide to help you:

Empower your team without micromanaging
Build clarity, trust, and momentum
Create a culture of ownership, one day at a time

Each day includes a quick, practical leadership move you can make immediately, no fluff, just real progress.

👉 Download the Free Plan Now and start leading with greater intention.

How I’m Learning to Lead with The Ownership Mindset

In this short video, I share why true leadership isn’t about holding on to every decision, it’s about creating the clarity, trust, and space that allow your team to take ownership.

▶ Watch: The Ownership Mindset™ in Action

You’ll hear real examples of how empowering people to see it, solve it, and share it leads to more innovation, faster problem-solving, and a stronger, healthier culture.

If you’ve ever wrestled with the tension between high standards and letting go, I hope this serves as a reminder: letting go isn’t losing control, it’s how we unlock real growth.

About Tyler Smith

Tyler Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Text In Church, a communication platform built to help churches connect with their people beyond Sunday mornings. With over 20 years of leadership experience, Tyler shares practical strategies to help church and business leaders grow with clarity and confidence.

He’s a husband, dad, and lifelong learner who’s passionate about building systems that empower people and strengthen communities.

👉 Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn for more leadership and communication insights.