Home > On Business > The Blame Game
On Business: The Blame Game
In the business world I have watched, and unfortunately participated, in many meetings where people spent hours in the middle of a crisis trying to determining how the crisis was conceived. All the hours that could have been spent on finding solutions to the problems were lost as people tried to determine who, or what, was to blame for the problems.
I eventually found it far more productive to have everyone focused on solving the problems at hand. In such situations I actively avoid discussions about who or what caused the problem. In extreme cases I have found it helpful to “take the blame” in the middle of the battle in order to allow everyone to move towards solving the problems.
I do find that post-project analysis is a useful tool to identify areas to correct and watch for in future efforts . But I have generally found that they are best done well after the project. In time past I find more perspective and objectivity in the process.
—p
Posted by Paul Gernhardt on Sunday, December 17, 2006