During Katie Anderson‘s #JapanStudyTrip this past November, a participant shared an observation with me that resonated deeply:
“The biggest challenge is our blame culture. It’s easier for people to do nothing because they don’t get in trouble.
But if they make a mistake, they get punished.
And our company is successful enough that there’s not a compelling reason for top leaders to change the culture.”
This isn’t a story from the U.S., but the feeling is universal.
A workplace culture where individuals are punished for mistakes–especially when those mistakes have systemic causes–is a significant barrier to progress.
It’s a global challenge, and addressing it requires rethinking how we approach leadership and learning.