Photo by Hobi industri on Unsplash
Throwing a colleague under the bus is one of the quickest ways to destroy team resilience. Sacrificing a teammate for a temporary and often minor advantage demonstrates your lack of commitment to your colleague and the team.
Even well-meaning people can sacrifice a teammate under pressure. For example, what if your supervisor criticizes you for missing a project deadline. You’re late because a colleague took a long time to get you some input. It’s tempting to blame your colleague rather than to promise to do better next time.
This behavior destroys trust and can turn colleagues against each other, with staff focusing on avoiding rather than encouraging risk and innovation.
While we all may know this, sometimes we act out of fear and later regret our rash behavior. Committing to "keeping each other out from under the bus" will help you resist temptation. Even when you are sure you are justified in shifting blame, don't do it. The long-term costs will always be higher than the immediate benefits.
Here are some tips to help you avoid throwing others under the bus:
Know Your “Throw” Triggers
Often people throw someone under the bus and then quickly regret it. Identify the triggers that spark that impulse. Practice responding to the triggers with different behavior.
Build Relationships
You are much less likely to betray colleagues you know and like. Take the time to get to know your co-workers so you'll view them as allies instead of rivals or threats.
Share The Risks
We all must take calculated risks, but when you take on too much risk by yourself, you're more likely to point the finger elsewhere if the situation goes bad. Instead, take significant risks as a team. Make sure the team understands the risks and make decisions as a group. Discuss worst-case contingency plans as a team. If you have a negative outcome, it's more likely the team will take responsibility instead of sacrificing just one person.
Clarify Roles and Responsibilities
When there are unclear roles and responsibilities, it is easier to betray your colleagues. Avoid this by clarifying roles and responsibilities, getting agreement among those involved, and documenting the results before trouble begins.
Admit Your Mistakes
While it can be hard to admit your mistakes, particularly in a public setting, your colleagues will trust and respect you more if you do. The more comfortable you are making and acknowledging your mistakes, the less likely you will blame others when you mess up.
Maintain High Resilience
If your resilience is low, you are more likely to make emotional decisions that undermine colleagues. Maintaining high resilience will help you manage your actions and avoid sacrificing colleagues out of fear.
What helps you avoid throwing others under the bus?
___________________________
To learn more about how you and your team can thrive in adversity, visit my website, and follow me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. And, check out my online Resilience Leadership course.