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Management & 1-on-1s

What to Say When an Employee Blames Others for Their Mistakes

When a direct report deflects blame onto product, marketing, or external vendors, allowing it creates a culture of helplessness. Here is how to coach personal ownership.

Amit Kasliwal
Amit KasliwalCEO & Founder, Dehurdle
March 28, 20264 min read
What to Say When an Employee Blames Others for Their Mistakes

The Friction

When an employee says 'Marketing didn't give me good leads,' arguing with them about marketing makes them more defensive. Re-anchor on their locus of control.

The Locus of Control Shift

Recommended Spoken Script
"Marketing's lead flow is something we are addressing at leadership. But within the 40 leads assigned to you, our conversion was 5% while the team average was 18%. Let's look at your first 3 minutes of call discovery to see how we can maximize the conversations you do have."

The 2-Minute Practice Drill

2-Minute Spoken Drill

The 2-Minute Practice Drill

Practice holding direct reports accountable in Dehurdle's Manager Coaching Arena.

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