Flying Without a Net

CHAPTER EIGHT

Blame

How Can I Convince Others That It’s Their Fault?

VERY SMART, ACCOMPLISHED, high-need-for-achievement professionals find it difficult to hear that they haven’t met expectations. The internal dialogue is, “I’ve worked so hard, how can anyone criticize my work?” They don’t want to hear that someone can do it better or has done it better at some point in the past. These ambitious, driven professionals take these matters personally. It’s not just business. As a result, they find it difficult to accept that they may have fallen short in some area and need to change their attitudes or behaviors in order to do better the next time. Instead of making themselves vulnerable by saying “mea culpa,” they say, “It’s not my fault; it’s his!” ...