Dattner and Dahl explore the critical issue of how credit and blame are allocated in an organization. Blaming the wrong people at the wrong time not only can lead to frustration, anger, and ultimately disengagement from the tasks at hand but also can cause individuals not to speak up and take the right action when they should, for fear of retribution. This includes allocation of credit where it is not deserved. In our current difficult, uncertain economy, collaboration and new approaches are critical for success, and the mishandling of credit and blame can devastate the workplace. This is a handbook for CEOs and other leaders as they create cultures in which the dynamics of credit and blame either dramatically enhance organizational learning or they tragically constrain it. It also aims to help the reader avoid the trap of falling into the blame game personally by successfully engaging with credit grabbers and finger pointers in the workplace. An excellent, thought-provoking book; a must read. --Mary Whaley
"A handbook for CEOs and other leaders...An excellent, thought-provoking book; amust read." (
Booklist)
“Packed full of intriguing, all-too-familiar stories, and based on a foundation of well established theories and research,
The Blame Game is an excellent resource for developing greater self awareness about the dangerous allure, and greater social awareness about the contagious effects, of blame. Ben Dattner provides us with sound practical advice about how to stop playing the blame game, and how to instead create and maintain relationships and organizations based on honesty, trust and respect.” (Annie McKee, co-author of Primal Leadership and founder, Teleos Leadership Institute)
"Ben Dattner has authored a brilliant and timely book. Unfortunately, the blame game is alive and all too well in business today. In
The Blame Game the author offers us insights as to how to change the game and create healthy and productive companies." (Doug Lennick, author, Moral Intelligence)
“Blame and credit constitute a hidden economy that, if not managed properly, can undermine even the most promising organizations and derail even the most promising careers. This book is an encyclopedia of blame in the workplace that anyone, at any level of their company and at any stage of their career, can benefit from reading.” (Keith McFarland, #1 Best Selling Author of The Breakthrough Company and Bounce)
“We’ve all suffered from the blame game, whether we are the one getting unfairly blamed, or the one yielding to the temptation to unproductively blame others. Through the lens of organizational psychology, Ben Dattner explains why blame is so prevalent in the workplace and presents so many challenges in our careers. Then he shares practical advice for how to break free from the blame game by taking appropriate responsibility for our actions, learning from our mistakes, and giving others the credit they are due.” (Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, author of Women Who Think Too Much and The Power of Women)
“Through a wealth of stories and research,
The Blame Game presents a compelling case that individuals, groups and organizations can benefit greatly by focusing less on blame and more on problem solving and collaboration. Leaders at any level of any organization will find practical guidance for how they can make this shift and also lead others in a better direction." (Pamela Meyer, author, From Workplace to Playspace: Innovating, Learning and Changing Through Dynamic Engagement)
“
The Blame Game is a modern management masterpiece; one of the most well-crafted business books I have ever read. It is useful, timeless, and often counter-intuitive. This compelling gem weaves together rigorous research and commonsense to show how the wisest, most humane, and most effective leaders get ahead – and enable their teams and organizations to succeed – in surprising ways.” (Robert I. Sutton, Stanford Professor and author of Good Boss, Bad Boss)
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
