Performance And Results Start With The Person In The Mirror

When business is down, quotas are missed, metrics are off, or board meetings go off the rails — the default reaction is to point the finger.

“The strategy was wrong.""My team made too many mistakes.""They didn’t prioritize the right things.""We didn’t have the right talent."

Sound familiar? Here’s the truth: If they’re on your team, if they report to you, the accountability lands with you.

As a coach, I always gave the credit to my team when we won, and took the blame and responsibility when we lost.That’s leadership.

Wins come from shared effort. Losses require ownership.

I’ve worked with countless leaders who’ve been quick to blame, complain, put down, or fire what they thought were underperforming team members. While they themselves skipped 1:1s, avoided hard conversations, didn’t coach, and failed to create clarity or accountability.

If results are off, don’t just look at your team — look in the mirror and ask yourself:

• Have I provided clear expectations and direction?

• Am I taking the time to consistently coach and develop my people?

• Do I model accountability and ownership?

• Have I created the culture I expect from my team?

• Have I done everything in my control to help them succeed?

You want to change the outcome? First, start by looking in the mirror and ask yourself what could have I done better before pointing the finger at someone else.