This principle is about initiative and ownership. At West Point, “taking responsibility” isn’t just about what happens when things go right; it is most importantly about what happens when things go wrong. A leader never makes excuses and never shifts the blame.

Seeking the Burden

Seeking responsibility means you don’t wait to be told what to do. You look for the “gap” in the organization and you fill it. It involves:

• Taking Initiative: Stepping up when a task is difficult or unpopular.
• Proactive Problem Solving: Identifying a challenge before it becomes a crisis and owning the solution.
• Growth Through Challenge: Recognizing that the more responsibility you handle, the more you grow as a leader.
• Preparation: Constantly training yourself so that when a higher level of responsibility becomes available, you are ready to handle it.

The “No Excuses” Culture

The second half of this principle is the ultimate test of a leader’s character. In a “no excuses” environment, a leader is responsible for everything the team does or fails to do. When a mistake happens, a true leader does not point fingers at subordinates, external circumstances, or bad luck.

Taking responsibility involves:

• The “Buck Stops Here” Mentality: Publicly accepting the blame for failures while passing the credit for successes down to the team.
• Honesty and Transparency: Being the first to admit when a plan has failed so that the team can pivot and find a solution.
• Corrective Action: Instead of dwelling on a mistake or trying to hide it, a leader analyzes what went wrong and takes immediate steps to fix it.

The Impact on the Team When you seek and take responsibility, you set a standard for everyone around you. It creates a culture of ownership where team members feel safe to take calculated risks, knowing their leader will support them. It eliminates the culture of blame and replaces it with a culture of problem-solving.

By owning your actions, you earn the most valuable currency a leader can have: trust.