Real-world examples of smart (and not-so-smart) blaming. Learn from the best and worst moments in blame history.
One perfectly crafted blame email that got a VP promoted
✓ What worked:
Specificity, precision, behavior-focused blame, and clear accountability without personal attack
✗ What didn't:
Nothing really—this is the gold standard of how to address a major failure via email
Why recording yourself blaming someone is the dumbest smart move possible
✓ What worked:
Admitting your mistake publicly (initially, before doubling down)
✗ What didn't:
Recording yourself, social media amplification, doubling down instead of pure accountability
How Marcus Smart brilliantly refused to let the media scapegoat his teammate
✓ What worked:
Smart took the blame publicly instead of letting a teammate be isolated, which defused tension and unified the team
✗ What didn't:
The media still tried to make it a story, showing that perfect blame can't control external narratives