Situation · Work
“My boss never admits a mistake”
What could be going on
Never wrong; rewrites history: Fits exactly; check whether they also rewrite history.
Narcissistic injury: Fits if admitting a mistake feels like a blow to who they are.
Cognitive dissonance: Fits if they defend bad decisions more fiercely as costs grow.
Self-serving bias: Fits if success is theirs and failure is circumstance.
Shame: Fits if admitting error would feel like being exposed as worthless.
Defensive routines (Argyris): Check whether the organisation punishes leaders who admit mistakes.
Questions to carry
- The last time something went wrong on my boss's watch, where did the story of it end up?
- How do I handle my own mistakes in front of my boss, and what have I learned to hide?
Also said as
- my manager is never wrong
- she always blames someone else when things fail
- why can't my boss say sorry
- he can't admit he made a bad call
- my supervisor refuses to accept responsibility
- boss won't own up to his mistakes