Words like blame and responsibility are getting slung around like weapons these days, which can make them challenging to discuss. Nevertheless, Pete takes them on in this post, sharing his thoughts about the most empowering way for you to think of them.
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In my work delivering business development training, shortlist interview coaching, and AEC interview preparation, one theme comes up again and again: your personal power comes from ownership. It’s the force that shapes your career, your influence, and the presence you bring into every room—especially in high-stakes moments like project interviews or team presentations.
Here’s the core idea: when you want a result you don’t yet have—or you’re stuck with a result you don’t want—your instinct may be to point outward. But every time you blame circumstances, competitors, or other people, you hand over a piece of your ability to create a different outcome. Ownership is where your power lives.
External forces are real. Markets shift. Clients change direction. Competitors bring their A-game. Teams evolve. But the moment you decide those forces determine your results, you give away control. In shortlist interview training and AEC interview skills training, this mindset difference is often what separates winning teams from frustrated ones.
It’s easy to say, “We lost that project because of the economy… because the client had a favorite… because our partner dropped the ball.” But each of those statements reduces your ability to influence the next pursuit, the next presentation, the next collaboration. Ownership is what positions you to lead—whether in group presentation coaching, business development coaching, or day-to-day communication.
Blaming for a moment is natural. We’re human. When something unexpected hits—losing a pursuit, losing a team member, or missing a goal—your first reaction might be emotional. That’s okay.
But don’t live there. The leaders who grow, inspire, and win the next opportunity are the ones who move quickly from blame to ownership. They re-center themselves and ask, “What can we do differently next time?” That’s the heart of strong business development communication training and Presence Coaching.
Language reveals mindset. If you often say, “That wasn’t fair,” or “They cost us the project,” or “This competitor always beats us,” you may be unintentionally surrendering your influence. Not every time—but often enough to weaken your leadership presence.
When your worldview tilts toward “the world is stacked against us,” you lose the opportunity to steer. Even in AEC pursuits, where competition is fierce, your internal narrative shapes your external results.
Adopt the mindset of a leader—of your life, your career, your client relationships, your teams. Ownership amplifies your confident presence and strengthens every skill set you apply in project interview preparation, meeting leadership, and daily communication. Hold the tiller. Steer with intention. Reclaim the power that was always yours.
The more ownership you take, the more influence you gain—and the more effectively you show up in every room you enter.
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