Scapegoating

I was asked recently about what to do in a situation in which someone is being treated as a scapegoat - being blamed for another's actions. This was posed to me by someone that was watching this take place (a 'third person' point-of-view). That is, they were watching someone else being "scapegoated".

As I analyzed this, I decided that the 'third person' is in a great position to stop the behavior by performing as follows:

1. Gather FACTS. Make sure that you understand the facts of "who has done what". Work through any differences in the stories that seem to be in conflict with the facts.


2. Examine the contribution system for the situation. Often we try to focus all the blame on source, which is not useful in problem solving; finding all the contributing sources is the best method for correcting a problem. If everyone truly has contributed to a failure in a given situation, then scapegoating tends to disappear.


3. Evaluate the relationship between the target and the scapegoater - sometimes there is more at play than is immediately apparent and the conflict is about something else entirely.


4. If you are convinced that scapegoating is going on, address it head on. Speak about it as the negative behavior that it is. Make it clear that it is not tolerated in healthy groups - it is not what we do. Point it out when it is happening, and make sure that you reinforce the value of taking responsibility in your group. If it is more acceptable to accept responsibility for one's contribution than it is to spread blame, then the behavior will change.


5. Be vocal about the behavior when you see it even if you are not the target.


6. Don't have any private dealings with the perpetrator until they renounce the behavior and they stop blaming the target. Mentor them regarding contribution systems and how to see their own contribution in problems.


7. Make sure that you exhibit respect for all involved; these are human behaviors and are best corrected by praise for doing the right thing and not punishment.


8. When the behavior stops, get back to normal as soon as you can. People do strange things when they are frightened and scapegoating is one of them. The best way to counteract fear is by building safety around desired behaviors.

In summary, do not tolerate scapegoating! Help the scapegoater (or any blame-oriented teammate) to understand how a contribution system works to make problem solving effective. Help the team to master fixing the problem and not fixing the blame.




Insist on great business results! Go to Pathfinder Communication