All managers, by definition are the “Captain of the ship”. They are responsible and accountable for everything that happens beneath their authority.
Yet there are managers, who when things around them go amiss, quickly find reasons — by their own logic — to pass the blame to others. Because doing this is often so blatantly obvious, it undermines subordinate respect and trust. The fact that a manager may not have known about a mistake as it was happening, is irrelevant. Subordinates and upper management expect the boss to assume their appropriate level of responsibility.
Ii is unpleasant when a superior calls a manager out for a mistake a subordinate has made and of which they were oblivious until that very moment. But that is just part of the job, a function of being accountable. My favorite response is something like this: “how about I come to your office later for a flogging after I have taken the steps needed to find out what happened and fix whatever needs fixing”.
Managers who are quick to blame others generate a great deal of irritation and anger among subordinates. It is seen as a character deficiency and immaturity. Blame avoidance also has a deadening effect on creativity and risk taking. Knowing their boss will seek to distance themselves from anything that goes wrong, some will generally choose not to take the chance.
Every manager must at times ask subordinates to venture into uncharted waters, try new things, adapt to changes they may not wish to embrace, and take risks. For subordinates to follow such requests they must respect and trust their boss as someone they can count on to join them in facing an uncertain future. Bosses who simply can’t help but blame others gradually mortgage their ability to lead.
Do not let this happen to you no matter how painful accepting responsibility may be.
UPDATED May 2026
Categories: Managing & Leading, Self-Management
What Best Mnagers Know & Do 
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