Own

To acknowledge and accept responsibility for an action, decision, or result.

Reach for it when praising honest accountability followed by corrective action

A dependable leader will own the mistake and explain the remedy.

• everyday

  admit

  someone states that an error is true

  not when Admit can sound reluctant and promise no repair.

• warm

  accept

  responsibility is taken without evasion

  not when Accept needs context to distinguish accountability from agreement.

• warm

  stand behind

  someone publicly supports a decision

  not when Standing behind is wrong when the decision needs correction.

• professional

  acknowledge

  the fact is openly recognized

  not when Acknowledgment may stop short of responsibility.

• professional

  take responsibility

  explicit wording matters in serious contexts

  not when The phrase is empty unless action follows.

• formal

  answer for

  accountability includes explaining consequences

  not when Answer for can sound punitive.

• deny
• deflect
• disown

• own a mistake

  She chose to own a mistake before it affected another team.

• own the decision

  The committee must own the decision and publish its reasoning.

• fully own

  He can fully own the result without taking blame for outside facts.