The Importance of Owning Consequences
Every decision has consequences, some we see coming, others we don’t. And while not every outcome is within your control, owning the results of your actions is.
Whether you’re choosing to speak up in a meeting, shift priorities for your team, or restructure responsibilities, there’s always an outcome waiting around the corner. Sometimes it’s a win. Sometimes it’s a mess to clean up. But either way, owning it is part of leading.
Decisions Come with Consequences (Even the Tiny Ones)
The average person makes around 35,000 decisions a day. Most are small and forgettable—like clicking “reply all” without thinking. Others can shake up your entire team, workload, or reputation.
Consequences can be:
Positive: A new initiative boosts morale and performance.
Negative: You overcommit your team and burn them out.
Direct: You decide not to prepare for a presentation—you flop.
Indirect: You cancel 1:1s for three weeks—now your team feels disconnected.
Unintended: You give critical feedback with good intentions, but someone takes it personally and shuts down.
That’s the messy beauty of leadership. You don’t get to control every ripple. But you do get to own your impact.
Why We Sometimes Skip the Consequences Conversation
It’s tempting to skip over the “what might happen?” part of a decision. Here’s why:
The answer feels obvious, so you rush in.
You don’t want to be that person—the buzzkill who brings up risks.
You assume your experience is enough to predict the outcome.
You’re caught up in momentum or pressure and don’t pause to reflect.
But every decision deserves a moment of critical thinking, especially the big ones. That means asking:
What might I be missing?
What’s the best-case/worst-case outcome?
What’s the ripple effect on people, process, or morale?
The goal isn’t to avoid all risks. It’s to step in with eyes open—and a plan to handle whatever follows.
How to Own the Consequences of Your Actions
Owning consequences isn’t just about cleaning up messes—it’s about building trust and credibility. Here’s how to do it well:
1. Acknowledge Your Role
Be honest about what you did (or didn’t do).
Avoid blaming others or spinning the story.
2. Accept the Outcome
Don’t resist or dodge it. Even great decisions can have tough outcomes.
Learn what you can and move forward.
3. Make Amends (if needed)
If your decision caused harm or friction, acknowledge it and make it right.
Apologize sincerely, then take visible steps to repair trust.
4. Refocus and Reset
Don’t stew in it. Own it, adjust, and lead on.
Use the experience to clarify your next step or set a new intention.
5. Stay Accountable
Check in with yourself regularly: What’s working? What needs attention?
Be honest about your blind spots—and keep learning.
6. Get Support
Talk it out with a trusted peer, mentor, or coach.
Leadership can be lonely. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Owning Consequences Builds Trust
When you own your decisions—especially the messy or misunderstood ones—you earn respect.
You show your team that you’re not above accountability. You prove to your peers and leaders that you’re trustworthy. And you remind yourself that authentic leadership isn’t about being right all the time—it’s about being responsible.
The more you practice this, the more confident and clear you’ll become in your leadership. And that’s when your team starts to follow you, not because they have to, but because they want to.
Leave a comment below if you have any other ways to deal with the consequences.
