How Responsibility Can Motivate Employees

"Complete this task exactly as instructed" vs "Own this outcome. Here is the objective and the boundaries. Decide how to achieve it." The second can create a stronger sense of ownership.

Responsibility may be motivating when it provides meaningful challenge, trust, decision-making, visible contribution, learning, accountability, and opportunity to use capability.

Responsibility without authority can become frustrating. Giving someone accountability while denying them the information, resources or decision-making power required to succeed is not necessarily motivating. Responsibility + Appropriate Authority + Resources = Potentially motivating ownership.