“It can be very stressful to pick the bones out of what went wrong…”
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Why do we come to work? To deliver on the mission of the organisation. That’s how crucial every single employee is. You matter greatly and so does every member of your team. What you do and how you do it impacts everyone.
Your work should feel good and congruent with who you are, you should feel able to weather the pressures and the highs and lows that will inevitably come in any work environment and to do that, you need the best tools and strategies to support you.
We give leaders who work with us powerful and practical tools and strategies they can use to maintain clarity even in potentially difficult or confusing circumstances, leading their teams back on track, focused and feeling understood.
Many of our clients are leaders who have to deal from time to time with issues that involve one party blaming another for something that should or shouldn’t have happened. And we know that it is all too easy to get caught up in the detail of the problem and to get sucked into the blame game. It can be very stressful to pick the bones out of what went wrong.
The quarrelling parties will each want you to believe their side of the story. They will be focused on getting you to see that they are right and the failing was due to the other party, the system, the client, or something/someone else. Most people get unsettled when things go wrong and they feel a compelling need to be vindicated.
Whilst it is important to recognise the feelings the other party is expressing (eg: frustration, anger, disappointment), it is really important to stay objective so that you can find a resolution.
Here’s one simple strategy that might help you to elevate your team out of the blame game and keep standards high:
- Breathe!
- Accept the situation for what it is (it’s happened and you are all where you are)
- Focus on the best outcome possible in the circumstances
- Make your intentions clear
- Agree with the parties involved, the steps that need to be taken to get there from where you are now
- Assign ownership and timescales to the plan
- Review the process, revising where necessary to avoid a future recurrence
- Gain commitment from all parties concerned
- Thank all for their cooperation towards a successful outcome
- Address knowledge/performance gaps with the individuals involved, privately one to one. Support them as they learn and agree a plan
Remember, things will go wrong from time to time. They provide an opportunity to improve. Address the situation early on, make the changes necessary and set expectations for the future.
To find out more about how we can help your business, and to arrange a conversation with a consultant, click here, or call us on +44 1932 888885.