While the quote “you can’t take it with you” may apply to money and material possessions, managers must require that team members take with them their greatest asset to the job each day—responsibility. Leaders of organizations doing better than others are always insisting on consistent execution, and execution can only happen if everyone does their part, being responsible for their contribution.

For example, take two recruitment companies in the UK working on the same type of growth and improvement initiatives. One is gaining ground faster than the other as a result of a consistent requirement, enforced by leadership, of every person doing what is required each week. Both companies have smart leaders and talented people; one is simply doing better at holding people accountable for following through on what matters most, never accepting excuses and always allowing for improvement.

When it comes to personal responsibility, you not only can, but you must take it with you. This is one of the most important jobs of leaders—requiring that everyone play their part, do their part, or give up their seat to someone who will. Any leaders out there who are not doing this need to either step up or step out and let someone else take over who will do so consistently.