Brenda’s Blog

One of the easiest ways to identify a great leader is this: When something goes wrong on the job, do they point fingers at others, or do they take ownership of the problem?

I get that it’s easy to point fingers – it happens a lot. It’s not uncommon for leaders to blame someone else for what happened. They may point to another leader, a team member, the team itself, a peer, or even point “up” – to the Board, to the C-Suite, etc. This “blame game” creates an atmosphere of judgment and fear, stifling a culture that could otherwise drive reflective learning and growth.
 
In contrast, the best leaders I’ve had the honor to work with handle issues differently – they “claim” the problems instead. With calm and quiet confidence, they take ownership of whatever arises and focus on learning from it.
 
Next time you’re faced with a challenge, ask yourself honestly: Are you blaming or claiming (or a combination of both)?
 
Here’s how to tell the difference between a blamer and a claimer…
 
Blamers:
👉 Point fingers at others
😨 Create a culture of fear and judgment
🚫 Avoid personal responsibility
⬅️ Deflect attention from their own role
📉 Minimize team trust and collaboration
 
Claimers:
✅ Take ownership of challenges
🌱 Foster a culture of learning and growth
👍 Accept personal responsibility
🔧 Focus on solutions and improvement – what “can” be
🤝 Build trust and collaboration within the team
 
Have you worked with a blamer or a claimer (or both)? What was your experience? I’d love to hear! Share below. ⬇️