The Oz Principle: Getting Results Through Individual and Organizational Accountability

The authors define this as “a personal choice to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving desired results—to See It, Own It, Solve It, and Do It” (78). A key element here is that it is a personal choice, which means that it is made independent of context.

This is a way of viewing the past that the authors contrast with the view of those stuck in the victim cycle. This is intended as a positive method for evaluating the past to measure it against goals, make adjustments, and recognize achievement.

This is the author’s description of individuals and organizations that have fallen into the victim cycle. Those who are Below The Line struggle to take ownership and be accountable for their circumstances. The authors acknowledge that true victims do exist, but they contend that they are rare and that people are better off trying to figure out how they are responsible for the circumstances they experience. For the authors, there are many ways to fall Below The Line.

The authors define this as “the ability to connect current circumstances with what I have done and the ability to tie future circumstances with what I am going to do” (147). In other words, ownership is the ability to connect current circumstances and future conditions with personal agency. Ownership is a key element to embracing accountability and getting Above The Line.