Resisting the Blame Game: Leadership Strategies for Accountability

These days you can’t turn on the news without seeing someone shifting responsibility onto someone else. Whether it’s a CEO blaming their team for a company’s poor performance, a politician deflecting economic challenges as a reason for unfulfilled campaign promises, or a parent blaming a teacher for their child’s grades—the blame game is everywhere.

It’s natural to want to protect ourselves when things go wrong. That’s why so many of us are quick to point fingers but slow to see how we might be part of the problem. Shifting responsibility has become a convenient escape for those unwilling to face their shortcomings. Yet, our world is in desperate need of more people who take ownership of problems at home, in the workplace, and society.

Recently, I was appointed to lead an accountability group within my church, where I oversee a selected group of members, guiding their spiritual growth along with ensuring their participation in church initiatives. The concept is important in large church communities, where it can be challenging for leadership to monitor the well-being of every member.

To be effective in this role, one must maintain regular contact with group members—talking, listening, and offering support during personal challenges. In addition to physical meetings and phone calls, a WhatsApp group often facilitates prompt communication.

Before stepping into this leadership role, I was a member of another group, where I noticed a recurring issue. When the leader asked a question on the platform, he rarely received a response. This undoubtedly frustrated him, and it’s easy to see how such challenges could lead a leader to fall into the blame game.

In this edition of my insights, I’ll explore the blame game in leadership—its dangers, and why it’s detrimental to both the leader and the organization. Get the whole story here.