The Blame Game - The easy corporate get-out

A short lesson in humility

Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues.
Confucius

It is very easy for corporations to blame past employees for perceived issues or failures they now face. It is always very easy to blame someone who cannot defend, correct, substantiate or answer the allegations anymore. But such behaviour only detracts from the real underlying issue or cause that usually still needs resolution.

A blame culture ingrained at the very top of any business only breeds corporate contempt, suppressing innovation, denying responsibility and crushing collaboration. Employees will not push themselves if they believe that if anything goes wrong, they will be blamed.

Employees should not feel threatened and feel like they may have a target pinned on their back. Employees should be motivated, trusted and empowered, working in a collaborative harmonious environment, not under the oppression of being a potential target of blame.

The employer; board, executives and senior management cannot only experience the successes and rewards that come with such a position, but crucially need to share the responsibility of failure as well. True leaders will support and encourage, when mistakes occur and things go wrong, and be the first to hold their hands up and share the responsibility. This is the only way a business will succeed and ensure real cooperation throughout the entire corporate hierarchy. An emphasis on blame, breeds doubt and harvests mistrust killing any perceived loyalty and quashes innovation.

I believe the first test of a truly great man is in his humility.
John Ruskin

There are many sizes of working in such a toxic and damaging culture of blame. If you cannot identify the single point of accountability for delivering a project, or if there is ambiguity about responsibilities, it’s likely the result of a culture of blame. Hesitancy to take a risk, admit mistakes, or attempts to cover up mistakes rather than fix them reflects a blame culture. Blame-shifting and directing blame towards a client or customer for the perceived problems the team maybe facing, means it is likely that no one is willing to go the extra mile and under a culture of blame. Hushed voices in the kitchen, whispers in the hallway or gossip in the carpark, these conversations erode the integrity and dynamic of any business and usually relate to an underlying blame culture.

So, all those business owners, leaders, management, before you look to take the easy route and look to blame, make derogatory comments about past members of staff, undermine a current employee, undertake a witch hunt in the business, throw accusatory statements to your colleagues, customers or clients...

Lateral Alliances offer professional and dependable consulting for all aspects of your company. From initiating and supporting marketing strategies, including PR, web design, graphic design, social media, business development, sale, right through to business and exit strategies, we have the skills and experience to support your business. We are a 'hands on' organisation, who prefer to get deeply involved in your business and challenges, not hide behind aimless discussions.

Insightful business thinking...