When a boss avoids responsibility, who will protect the team?

Last week, I caught up with a few colleagues from my old company.
Barely had we sat down when one of them sighed:

“My new boss is very strange.”
I asked: “Strange how?”

He replied:
“In team meetings, she nods in full agreement with our ideas. But when presenting to the CEO and getting criticized, she shifts and says, that was the team’s idea. So we never know where we stand.”

This is a classic sign of a leader avoiding accountability.
Instead of owning decisions, she passes the blame downward.

The results?

• Trust erodes between manager and team
• Team morale drops
• Team engagement declines, and with it, team performance.

True leadership means you don’t just take credit when things go well—you also take responsibility when things get tough.

If you’re in a leadership role today, ask yourself:

• Am I protecting my team?
• Am I creating safety for ideas?
• Am I strengthening trust?

Because accountability is not just a personal value—it’s the cornerstone of high-performing teams.

A leader who owns outcomes, builds loyalty and creates a team that dares to bring their best.