ManagerMentor
How do I make sure everyone can hold their “box of responsibilities” in their hands?
Series: 50 Most Pressing Questions Facing Managers in 2026.
SUMMARY
Any job role on your team that does not have direct line of sight to your priorities, goals, and metrics is out of alignment. When a team is out of alignment, your people know it — and they know it’s hard for you to make decisions based on actual performance. If people can hold their “box” of responsibilities in their hands, they can imagine ways to do things better or more productively.
WHY: Your People Want to Own Their Work
The best people know accountability paves the road forward in their careers. They are looking for opportunities to take risks, innovate and stand out — and want to work for a manager who will give them that opportunity.
They know owning something on your dashboard is an opportunity to be recognized, if they exceed expectations.
Owning a set of responsibilities also gives people a chance to do things their way — just like you wanted to when you were an individual contributor. The most talented people believe in themselves. Keep in mind, if people can hold their “box” of responsibilities in their hands, they can imagine ways to do things better or more productively.