I wrote a Blog awhile back titled “Stop Blaming Employees."

I still believe it to be true today. It is so tempting to look at our direct reports, as well as other employees and find a good number of faults. As if, their faults were the root cause of everything that is not performing as we had hoped.

I remember seeing a picture of someone pointing an excusing finger with the caption "When we point out the faults of others, remember you have three fingers point back at yourself." 

If we want to create a "climate of success" with those we work with, then we must understand that if others are not performing as expected, then we own some portion of the blame. Is it our attitude, our message, or our example that is contributing to the problems? Are the three fingers pointing back at us revealing that in the accusatory role that we are also part of the problem. Because, most us think we are just part of the solution.

One of the truths I have come to understand...if you are not happy with your current staff's - attitudes, behaviors, commitments and performance results, then you must realize that you either hired them the way they were or you have managed them to be that way. Neither way is good.