“So, you told the team something that wasn’t true. You mislead them about who would be accountable,” I said.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Sheila protested. “The problem with the project was just a breakdown in communication.”

“Sheila, I want you to look carefully at a couple of things here,” I replied.

• The project got behind and no one reported it.
• A team member made a decision to work overtime that was not authorized.
• A team member made a decision to use materials that were reserved for the next shift.

And you can’t tell me why those things happened.”

“It was just an honest mistake. I don’t think they really meant any harm,” Sheila defended.

“So, who should I hold accountable for the project coming in late and over budget?” I asked.

“Well, it was their fault.”

“No,” I shook my head. “All crumbs lead to the manager.”

“But that’s me,” Sheila puzzled.