There’s a great way to evaluate if you have the right people around you, and the people who will take ownership for what they are doing.  The right people will always feel challenged to solve a problem first before bringing it to you, their leader.

First, the right people are those who have strengths in what you are asking them to do.  That means that they feel confident to take on challenges without always coming back to you for advice or even the answer.   You can always tell if a challenge is outside a person’s strengths, as they will always bring the problem directly to you for an answer (taking the easy way).

Second, by trying to solve the challenge on their own, they are showing that they have ownership for the problem and solution.  People who take ownership for the solution will always put more energy into the execution as well.

Also, there is one thing that successful leaders always do…They will always ask their people to come with possible solutions (options) to discuss.  These leaders know that using the input from their people in the final solution will always drive them to take more ownership of the solution too.