Creating a NoBlame Culture

Carol creates an innovative Corporate Social Responsibility program that is trending on Twitter after a disastrous typo in the press release. Serena is outraged by the undesirable publicity. Fingers are pointed and chaos erupts as the team looks for scapegoats. Marcus and Carol present a 4-step process so everyone can avoid blaming, learn from mistakes and ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Carol has created an innovative Corporate Social Responsibility program that is being launched to the media. Serena calls a meeting to find out who is behind it. Carol proudly stakes her claim until it is discovered that a disastrous typographical error in the press release has given the company some enormous, undesirable publicity. Fingers are pointed and chaos erupts as the team looks for solutions and a way to ensure similar mistakes don’t occur in the future. Marcus and Carol roll out a 4-step plan to ensure everyone learns from mistakes and blame is removed.

  Key Learning Points

“People love to blame when mistakes happen. Yet mistakes are the invitation to innovate.”

SHARE MISTAKES TO INNOVATE FOR THE FUTURE

Don'tblame when something goes wrong
INSTEAD: Be brave and openly share mistakes

Don’texaggerate the damage
INSTEAD: Assess impact and reinforce positives

Don'tcontinually complain about problems
INSTEAD: Discuss best actions to fix problems

Don’tabandon good ideas after a problem                 
INSTEAD: See opportunities to learn and innovate