Ownership of Ideas
I've observed a challenge in our organization that warrants attention. Increasingly, people approach me with half-formed ideas, seemingly expecting me to complete the thought process for them. This trend isn't a failure on anyone's part; it indicates that we might be leaning too much on instruction rather than on independent, disciplined inquiry. In my experience, effective management isn't about providing ready-made answers but about creating an environment where each person can develop their own understanding and judgment. It's essential to differentiate between seeking instructions and asking questions that lead to genuine insight—much like the Socratic method of inquiry. There's a simple framework we can use: the Ownership-Driven Inquiry Framework. It consists of three steps: Observe: Clearly state the current situation or problem. Analyze: Reflect on what the situation means, why it matters, and what underlying assumptions might be at play. Act: Develop p...