Seven Steps to Stop the Blame Game
Blaming others is an addiction, a habit of faulty thinking, a cop-out from being held accountable.
By James Mapes
Blame is fascinating — it shapes our lives. It can be a benign way of positioning ourselves, a gentle joust or banter, or it can be poisonous, hurtful or devastating for its victims.
It can tear apart marriages and fracture work relationships;
it can disable major social programs;
it can inflict damage on powerful corporations; it can bring down governments;
it can start wars and justify genocides.
- Stephen Fineman, The Blame Business
There are times when people and businesses really mess up and need to be held accountable and pay the price for their mistakes. It’s all right to give reasons for a mistake — if you don’t point the finger of blame. Learning is everything.
I’m specifically addressing something totally different. I’m addressing a plague that is spiraling out of control, the plague of blame.
As I travel, run a business and read extensively, I’ve observed that blame is truly an epidemic — in the professional world and life in general.
Many, many individuals wallow in self-pity and hate those who have hurt them. Others shirk responsibility…
