Colleagues:

I have had a request to provide / create training on how to get employees to think more like "owners." My follow up question to the requestor suggests that this is being used as a a catch-all term for training / coaching that will help employees 1) accept accountability and responsibility for actions and efforts, including taking initiative and following up. Many programs address these concepts, and I am interested in learning about any training materials you know about that touch on the concept of getting employees to think / act like owners plus any other thoughts on this that you may have. Thanks!

Curious.... did this request originate from the owners?

If I were in your shoes, I'd have a lot more questions for the requestors...

What, exactly, is the business problem you're trying to address? How was it determined that training people to think a certain way would be the solution?
What other solutions were identified?
Why do you think people are currently not accepting accountability for their actions and efforts?
What are people doing now that they shouldn't be doing? Why do you think that is?

(Often, it's easy for stakeholders to point fingers at employees in general without first critically examining their own behavior as leaders of the organization. Are they walking the walk they want everyone else to walk?)

Good questions LoveLearning!

PVB,
I don't think the person making this request has a clue as to what training even is, much less when to apply it to address a problem. Regardless of the problem or its potential solutions, NOTHING can train people to think a certain way except some form of brainwashing like that used by charasmatic cult leaders - and thank goodness fot that small favor!!

Usually when there is a request for employees to act as "owners," the people requesting it are the problem - they should do some soul searching first - exactly like LoveLearning suggests.

I think it might be helpful to perhaps start you with one key question, instead of my barrage earlier... How about this --

What's in it for the employee?

Okay, that question will do. What SHOULD be in it for the employee is a sense of belonging, the ability to make a real contribution to the organization, some measure of control over their own destiny, and a great measure of respect from their leaders and colleagues. Without any one of these, there will likely be no accountability or sense of responsibility. The leaders are clearly at fault no matter how you slice it if the employees feel any of the above to be lacking. It has nothing at all to do with training - yet again! It has everything to do with changing either the leaders themselves - like get rid of them - or changing the culture. And I'm not sure you can change the culture with the current leaders.