Taking Ownership Is The Most Effective Way to Get What You Want

Drawing from psychology research on learned helplessness and Jocko Willink's concept of extreme ownership, this article demonstrates how taking responsibility for outcomes empowers engineers to effect change. Rather than blaming external factors, the author advocates focusing on what you can control by asking 'How might I...?' to reframe problems constructively. Engineering leaders will learn practical strategies for overcoming blockers, managing upwards effectively, and creating systems that incentivize desired behaviors, ultimately showing that ownership mindset is the most productive approach to achieving goals.