How to Accept Blame when You Deserve It

Step 1

1

Recognize you’re wrong. To accept blame, you must acknowledge your wrongdoing. Reflect on your words or actions and know what you did poorly or wrongly. Gain some clarity about the event and why you may have done what you did.

Admitting you were wrong doesn’t mean that you’re weak or inept. In fact, being able to own up to your mistakes takes a lot of courage and self-awareness. It is a sign of maturity.

For example, if you said you would pick up the dry cleaning but didn’t, don’t make an excuse. Just own that you said you would do something and you didn’t pull through.

Step 2

2

Don’t try to shift the blame. Keep the focus on you. You might share the blame and the other person may have said or done wrong things as well, but focus only on your part. Just because you accept your own blame doesn’t mean you’re free to blame other people for their parts.

If you own up to your part, the other person may not own up to theirs. Even if they don’t, know that you did the right thing by admitting your wrongs. Remember that you can only control your own actions, not anyone else’s.

For example, if a project didn’t get finished and you were part of the problem, own up to your part. Don’t start blaming other people, even if they were part of the problem.