In today’s world of teamwork and leadership, it’s easy to get bogged down in day-to-day tasks and forget the bigger picture.
This workshop is designed to help you change that.
I will walk you through the concept of Extreme Ownership, a leadership approach that encourages everyone to take full responsibility for their actions, both as individuals and as part of a team.
Why is this important?
Because the success of any team, no matter how talented, relies on accountability.
Without it, problems like finger-pointing, miscommunication, and stalled progress are bound to arise.
And let’s face it, that’s what often happens.
Many teams struggle with ownership, and it is usually because they are trapped in the cycle of blame, waiting for someone else to step in and fix things.
The reality is, most teams fail in this area because it is just easier to point to external factors or others’ mistakes, right?
But when you embrace ownership, you are freeing yourself and your team from the limitations of this mindset.
It is about creating an environment where people stop making excuses and start making progress.
Extreme Ownership is a game-changer for teams.
Not just for the leaders, but for everyone. It empowers individuals, promotes trust, and drives results.
It’s simple, yet powerful.
So, here is why this workshop will have a lasting impact:
- You will learn to take responsibility for both your successes and your failures.
- You will understand how accountability can drastically improve your team’s performance.
- You will break the cycle of blame and shift your focus to finding solutions.
- You will discover how decentralising decision-making empowers your team and boosts collaboration.
- You will leave with a clear action plan on how to apply these principles to your daily work, no matter your role.
By the end of the workshop, you will see how embracing Extreme Ownership is the key to creating stronger, more efficient teams.
Teams that take charge, move forward, and ultimately succeed together.
Let’s get into it…
Extreme Ownership for High-Performing Teams
Duration: 2.5 hours
Audience: Teams of any size (ideal for 6–20 participants)
Workshop Objectives
- Understand and apply the key principles of Extreme Ownership.
- Identify and address areas where accountability can be improved within the team.
- Practice prioritising tasks and executing them effectively.
- Learn to foster teamwork and empower others through decentralised command.
- Develop action plans to enhance personal and team accountability moving forward.
Materials Needed
- Whiteboard or flip chart
- Markers
- Sticky notes
- Printed handouts with key principles from the book
- Timer
- Prepared case studies or examples for group discussions
Workshop Plan
Introduction & Setting the Stage (10 min)
Purpose: Briefly introduce the core concepts of extreme ownership and what participants will gain from the session.
Facilitator's Tip: Engage the group by asking them to reflect on their understanding of leadership and accountability.
Activity:
- Ask each participant to answer one question:
- "What does accountability mean to you, and how do you see it in your team?"
- Each person shares their response for 30 seconds.
Key Principles of Extreme Ownership (20 min)
Purpose: Introduce the key principles of "Extreme Ownership" and explain how they impact leadership and team performance.
Facilitator's Tip: Keep the explanation short and focus on making each principle practical and relatable.
Content Overview:
- Take Full Responsibility
- No Excuses
- Decentralised Command
- Prioritise and Execute
- Cover and Move
- Simplicity
- Discipline Equals Freedom
Activity:
- Break into small groups (3-4 people). Each group gets one principle to discuss and create a real-life example of how it can be applied in their work environment.
- After 10 minutes, each group presents their example to the larger group.
Interactive Activity: Accountability Mapping (30 min)
Purpose: Help participants identify where accountability is strong or weak in their team and learn how to take ownership in areas that need improvement.
Instructions:
- Provide each participant with sticky notes.
- Ask them to think about a recent project or task and identify areas where accountability was strong or lacking.
- Write down key moments where ownership was either embraced or avoided. Place the sticky notes on a board or wall, categorising them by theme (e.g., leadership, communication, follow-through).
Discussion (10 minutes):
- Facilitate a group conversation about what they noticed.
- Ask questions like:
- What barriers make it difficult for team members to take ownership?
- How can they break down those barriers moving forward?
Case Study: Applying Extreme Ownership (30 min)
Purpose: Apply the insights to a real-world scenario and practice problem-solving as a team.
Instructions:
- Present a case study that involves a team challenge. (Choose a scenario that’s relevant to the team’s work or create a fictional case.)
- Split the team into smaller groups (3-4 people).
- Ask them to identify how the principles of extreme ownership could be applied to resolve the situation, step by step.
- Each group should come up with solutions that include:
- What ownership looks like in the situation
- How they can eliminate excuses
- How to foster collaboration and support each other
Discussion (5 minutes):
- Each group presents their approach for applying extreme ownership in the case study.
- As a team, discuss the different solutions and lessons learned.
Accountability Partner Exercise (30 min)
Purpose: Encourage participants to practice holding each other accountable and taking ownership of their actions.
Instructions:
- Pair participants up.
- Each pair shares one current challenge or task they're working on (related to their team role or project).
- Partners must listen, ask questions, and help identify areas where ownership can be strengthened.
- After discussing, they should set a clear action plan that holds both parties accountable, ensuring follow-through.
Activity (10 minutes):
- Allow time for partners to discuss their challenges, set clear ownership goals, and share their action plans.
Reflection & Action Plan (20 min)
Purpose: Reinforce the learning and encourage commitment to applying extreme ownership in the workplace.
Instructions:
- Ask participants to individually reflect on the following questions:
- What’s one area of your work where you need to take more ownership?
- What can you do differently to ensure accountability and lead by example?
- How will you hold yourself accountable to your team moving forward?
Activity:
- Ask each participant to write down their action plan on a piece of paper (use handouts or a worksheet).
- Encourage them to share their commitment with the group to increase accountability.
Wrap-Up (10 min)
- Summary: Recap the key takeaways from the workshop: taking full responsibility, removing excuses, and fostering collaboration.
- Call to Action: Encourage participants to take ownership immediately after the workshop by identifying one key area of improvement and starting with the actions discussed in their partner exercise.
- Closing Quote: "Leaders are not the ones with all the answers; they are the ones who create the environment where others take ownership and lead."
Facilitation Tips
- Maintain a high level of interaction: Encourage dialogue throughout each section and don’t just lecture.
- Keep the energy high: Use quick discussions, time-bound exercises, and group work to maintain engagement.
- Keep it practical: Emphasise real-world application, and relate everything back to their daily experiences.
Conclusion
Adopting the principles of Extreme Ownership can transform the way your team works, communicates, and performs.
By taking full responsibility for actions and outcomes, teams can break free from the cycle of blame and shift their focus to problem-solving and growth.
This workshop offers a practical approach to building accountability, trust, and collaboration, empowering each individual to contribute to the collective success.
When everyone embraces ownership, teams become more efficient, resilient, and focused on achieving their goals.
The true power of leadership lies not in controlling every detail but in fostering a culture where every team member takes responsibility for their part in the bigger picture.
If you’re ready to see real change, this workshop will equip you with the tools to take action and create a high-performing, accountable team.
See you next week.