You Must Own It

You hear people talk about “blame games”–the way that colleagues shift responsibility, not owning up to their mistakes, or the mistakes they think others should be accountable for. Of course, there's self-blame too–all responsible professionals feel like they're falling short sometimes, like they're not doing enough, like they're not enough.

This blame is informative in one sense–certainly, there are careless, indifferent colleagues who don't think about their responsibilities or their team at all. But other than as an indication that you are concerned about your role, blame shifting is not much good for anything.

Does playing the victim make you more effective at your job? No, it diverts your focus. It's almost selfish in its deflection, convincing yourself that everyone is out to get you. Shifting blame is like that. It doesn’t make you any better at an already challenging profession. Your work challenges you enough–literally and metaphorically–do you really need to add finger-pointing?

Ancient wisdom talks about how the mark of integrity is being truthful with oneself. Well, as a professional, you've got to do the same thing. A true colleague holds you accountable, can be honest with you–but they do this with respect, they do it with support. They appreciate you. They back you up.

A person who makes you feel blamed, who undermines you constantly, who tells you you're failing, that you're messing up? They're not a collaborator. They're not someone you'd ever want on your team. So why are you allowing them to influence your self-perception? Why are you doing it to yourself?

In a culture where accountability is valued, blame shifting becomes an obsolete game. It's about embracing responsibility, not just as a buzzword but as a lived practice. Your role is not just what's outlined in a job description–it's a commitment to truth, integrity, and collective growth. Stop blaming and start owning, for yourself and for the strength of the whole team.