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Who’s to Blame?

Many years ago, a new supervisee came to me after making a significant financial mistake that would have serious consequences. I vividly remember my stomach dropping and my head spinning around the repercussions of this team member’s accidental error.


The chain-of-command I functioned within at that time was one of criticism and one that immediately assigned blame. I felt my brain almost explode as I considered what would feel like a lion’s den I would walk into when I reported the situation to my supervisor. 


Luckily, my desire to be a supportive force for this employee prevailed and I noticed I automatically moved into three phases of problem-solving as a Self-Aware Leader


1) How Can We Fix This Problem? I rolled up my sleeves, sat beside this employee who was overwhelmed with feelings of guilt, and we crafted a plan to remedy the mistake. The moment I calmly explained that this was a momentous mistake and that we would find a solution TOGETHER, their brain calmed and they were instantly able to begin to access ideas and solutions for a remedy. se


2) How Did We Get Here? After we had created a solution, we needed to revisit how this happened. In a supportive and truly curious manner, we explored with this employee what created this situation. Was there a lack of training? Was there a misunderstanding around expectation or agreements? Was the employee overwhelmed by their task load? Was the employee intimidated or fearful to ask for help or support? Was there something happening in the employee’s life (personal or professional) that was causing a distraction that has interfered? 


3) How Do We Avoid This in the Future? This is where accountability and agreements show up. The crisis is over and now we identify next steps and prevention from this happening in the future. It was important to ensure both brains are calm and regulated while we have an honest conversation around training, written agreements, and supports to confirm the needed steps to promote success in the future. 


As a Self-Aware Leader, there’s no need for shaming, blaming, or criticism. Mistakes happen – and we’ve all made them. It doesn’t help brains think critically when they are shut-down by criticism. 


What challenges have you faced as a leader where you felt tempted to blame but chose a different path? Share your stories or ask your burning leadership questions in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you. 


Together, we can create Self-Aware Leadership cultures that inspire growth and resilience. Let’s start the dialogue today! 

 

YOU MATTER!

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