Gordon Brown isn’t alone in looking to blame others even if he did take personal responsibility for the situation later. We start as kids when asked “Who ate the last chocolate” and point at a sibling and it continues into school when asked “Who did this” and we reply “but he made me do it sir”. It’s not a surprise then to learn we continue the same pattern in adulthood and into our working life?

We all do it – although perhaps not in full view of the media. There is however a personal well being price to pay for blaming others.

If you’re still unsure how blaming others can impact your well being just think for a moment on the following possible responses when something goes wrong:  

• It’s Sue’s fault
• My manager told me to
• We all agreed
• The procedures are useless
• The customer is wrong

Or even

• My manager/team doesn’t like me
• My manager/team is useless

We might not say it but we’re wanting others to believe we didn’t do it, we’re not to blame, someone else is. So long as we believe this and act based on this belief then we’re not taking personal responsibility for our own actions. We’re not using the feedback to ensure we don’t make the same mistake again. We’re not using the feedback to personally grow and develop.

The blame game has many repercussions:

• Staying in a job you hate because it’s the companies fault not yours for choosing to stay there
• Working unacceptable overtime year in year out because the contract is more important than you are
• Not spending time with your family for holidays or special occasions because “work won’t let me”
• Not being promoted and still blaming the manager for not liking you  

Fear, Self esteem and Confidence are only a few of the reasons people stay in the situations listed above. However until we take personal responsibility for the situation and understand it won’t change until we do it will just keep on happening.