Over-Accountable Leaders Hold Their Teams Back
When leaders take too much accountability, it can quietly hold their teams back. On the surface, statements like “That’s on me” sound humble and admirable — a sign of vulnerability and strength. But when leaders repeatedly position themselves at the center of every failure, they unintentionally create a culture of dependency. Teams stop taking ownership, avoid risks, and hesitate to innovate because the leader has already claimed the burden.
True leadership is not about being the hero. It is about building capacity across the organization by sharing accountability, fostering collective learning, and inviting the team into problem-solving. When leaders shift from “It’s my fault” to “Let’s understand what didn’t work,” they empower others to step up, grow, and lead. The ultimate measure of leadership is not how much the organization depends on you — it is how well it thrives without you.
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