---
title: "The ownership programme"
description: "A way to hand real responsibility to staff who have a passion."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/unreasonable-hospitality/the-ownership-programme/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# The ownership programme

> A way to hand real responsibility to staff who have a passion.

Will Guidara's framework, from Unreasonable Hospitality, pp. 100 to 116.

Framework 6 of 15 from [Unreasonable Hospitality](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/unreasonable-hospitality/index.md) by Will Guidara. Category: Offers and pricing.

## The steps

1. **Spot the passion.** Notice who on the team is wildly enthusiastic about an area such as coffee, beer or tea.
2. **Offer, never assign.** Make participation voluntary and ask only for interest, curiosity and the first inklings of a passion.
3. **Give them the keys.** Provide a budget, show them how to manage it, introduce vendors and say it is yours now, go make it awesome.
4. **Mentor and set guardrails.** Give oversight and encouragement early, with limits so one mistake cannot cost a fortune.
5. **Move on if it fails.** Do not penalise a miss, simply find another area where they can invest their time.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: Chapter 10: Creating a Culture of Collaboration, pp. 100–116

After the strategic planning meeting Guidara wants collaboration to mean everyone, every day. A just-okay cup of coffee after an otherwise perfect dinner at Per Se, his worthy rival, leads him to hand the coffee programme to enthusiast Jim Betz, which starts the ownership programme: beer, tea, cocktails, linens and glass racks go to volunteers with a budget and the words it is yours now. He shows the win/win/win, then adds Happy Hour teaching sessions, staff-led Saturday pre-meals, mandatory collaboration for new hires, listening to every idea, and the principle that great leaders create leaders.

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/unreasonable-hospitality/the-ownership-programme.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/unreasonable-hospitality/the-ownership-programme-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/unreasonable-hospitality/the-ownership-programme.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/unreasonable-hospitality/the-ownership-programme-dark.png