Question 1

What is an ownership mindset at work?

Accepted Answer

An ownership mindset means treating the outcome — not just your assigned slice of the task — as yours, and acting on it before being told to. In practice it has three observable parts: you close gaps you didn't create, you carry a problem until it is resolved or formally handed off, and you make the call when no one else will, then communicate it. Amazon's leadership principle puts it bluntly: owners never say 'that's not my job.'

Question 2

What is the difference between accountability and responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Responsibility is for the tasks you are assigned; it is ongoing and can be shared or delegated. Accountability is ownership of the outcome; it kicks in at the result and lands on one named person — it cannot be delegated. Confusing the two creates the classic unowned-gap failure: everybody thought somebody would do it, anybody could have, but nobody did.

Question 3

Is ownership the same as overworking or being a hero?

Accepted Answer

No. Ownership is owning the result and the decision — which can mean escalating it, reassigning it, or asking for help with a plan attached. It is not silently absorbing infinite work (martyrdom), never asking for help, or taking solo credit (hero culture). Sustainable ownership includes owning your own capacity.

Question 4

How is taking initiative different from going rogue?

Accepted Answer

Research calls this the proactivity paradox: initiative is rewarded only when it aligns with the expectations of the person in charge. Going rogue means acting around stakeholders. The fix is to propose the action and invite a stakeholder check in one move, and to favour small reversible bets — especially early in your career.

Question 5

Who is this Ownership & Initiative course for?

Accepted Answer

Entry-level and working professionals: newcomers in their first role, individual contributors who own projects and cross-team work, and new team leads. The course is free, bilingual (Vietnamese/English), about 2 hours, with 6 modules, a capstone, and a certificate, built around real workplace situations.

Question 6

What is the Circle of Influence?

Accepted Answer

From Stephen Covey's Habit 1: proactive people spend energy inside their Circle of Influence — the things they can act on — instead of the Circle of Concern — things they cannot control like the economy or the boss's mood. Focusing on the Circle of Influence expands it over time; dwelling in the Circle of Concern shrinks it.

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