As a leader, everything is always your fault.

I remember disliking group projects in high school because I would have to depend on others. When I first started managing projects and teams, that feeling returned. Small things would go wrong, and I would justify myself to death.

Except of course it was always totally my fault. I’ve always loved taking responsibility for projects, but I hadn’t yet learned to embrace what that actually means.

I still see so many leaders, young and experienced alike, who can’t get over themselves to truly take on that responsibility. But when they do, there’s a palpable shift in their teams’ dynamics—and the results always follow.

It comes down to one of my favorite questions:

→ Are you a player or are you a victim?

The victim complains and loses momentum.

The player embraces responsibility and turns difficult moments into wins.

Be a player, that’s where the magic happens.