Life Consultants

Failure, Fault and Blame

Mostly, the meanings and values seem to be misunderstood.

Failure means non-occurrence, lack of success, objective unachieved, the difference between intention and actuality. (Normally due to lack of understanding, or inadequate motivation or lack of capability.)

Fault means something wrongly done, a defect that causes something, an explanation of how the failure occurred.

Blame means the responsibility for the incorrect result – the natural human tendency to attribute responsibility to somebody else when a failure has occurred.

Question: Why on earth does this matter? Isn’t it merely semantics?

Reply: We think it matters because so much time and effort and emotion are put into establishing Blame, when it is merely a moral judgement, it is rarely productive, and although people think it will salve their feelings, that tends to be a vain hope.

We think that if you “want to stop it happening again” you should spend the time and effort analysing Failure and Fault.

Consider attributing Blame only if you are sure it will be beneficial. If more of us pursued that policy, think how many expensive year-long “enquiries” would be avoided.

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For managers (and perhaps for other relationships. . . )

How to reduce failure and how to limit morale-damaging discussions when things go wrong:

• Failure is less likely when it is clear who will own it.

Agree a detailed list of responsibilities/accountabilities entitled “Whom to ask about What”.

If each item is owned, each employee will accept and maintain personal responsibility, and they will rarely let themselves down.