Management Tip of the Day :: April 15, 2009 :: HarvardBusiness.org
It's nice to see HBR, for once, spreading the message of Dr. Deming. If you have tough financial circumstances in your company, one of their four tips includes:
Don't blame. While certain senior managers may be more culpable than others, singling out individuals does not instill faith. Instead of pointing fingers, honestly address the situation and describe a plan of action.
Blame and finger pointing rarely helps. It certainly does not create the team atmosphere that would be required to successfully navigate tough times. Weak leaders blame. Strong effective leaders focus on problems and root causes… focusing on action and improvement rather than blaming or eliminating the “at fault” individual.
Subscribe via RSS | Lean Blog Main Page | Podcast | Twitter @leanblog
Please post a comment and join the discussion. Subscribe to get notified about posts daily or weekly.
Mark Graban
Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. His most recent book is the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus. His latest book has been released as an "in-progress" book, titled Measures of Success.
Fix the problem, not the blame. That little advice goes very far!