How can a leader build trust to enable ownership among team members?

• A. Withhold information to avoid misinterpretation.
• B. Demonstrate transparency, accountability, and consistent behavior; support subordinates’ ideas and decisions.
• C. Micromanage daily tasks to ensure compliance.
• D. Ignore subordinates' ideas to maintain control.

Answer: (B)

Building trust to enable ownership comes from transparency, accountability, and consistent behavior, all while supporting your team’s ideas. When a leader openly shares information and the reasons behind decisions, everyone understands the goals, constraints, and what success looks like. Being accountable means owning outcomes—admitting mistakes, following through on commitments, and holding oneself to the same standards expected of the team. Consistent behavior—acting in line with the stated values and decisions—creates reliability, so team members can predict how leaders will respond under pressure and feel safe taking initiative. Pair this with actively supporting subordinates’ ideas and decisions, and people see that their judgment matters and they’re trusted to act. That combination builds psychological safety, invites them to own their work, and strengthens commitment to the plan. By contrast, withholding information, micromanaging, or ignoring ideas erodes trust and autonomy, making ownership less likely.