Everyone blames me

You’re between a rock and hard place, caught between your team’s expectations and that of your organization, you become the target of negative feelings, all this even though you have limited leeway. What to do?

Your team says you have mismanaged things, you feel you are being personally held to account. Under stress, you are tempted to fight back, to justify yourself without listening, or to reject the fault on your hierarchy…which will make the team’s distrust even worse. How to handle these complaints?

Focus on your emotions: try to name them so as to recognize them, keep them at arm’s length and bring stress levels back down.

Take an honest look at the situation: what did you do – or fail to do – to contribute to these unhappy circumstances? Be compassionate when you do so; you are fallible, don’t pile blame on yourself!

Hold a meeting to discuss concerns. Adopt an active listening attitude. Involve the team in building a solution.

Own up to your part. When relevant, also show what is outside of your control.

Examine things with hindsight: did you miss weak signals?

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