The other day, while driving home, we were listening to a podcast discussing the struggles of a college football program. Much of the conversation centered on the head coach and the problems surrounding the team’s lack of success. As the discussion continued, one of the commentators made an observation that caught my attention. Perhaps instead of pointing fingers at everyone else, the coach needed to spend some time pointing the thumb at himself.

That statement stayed with me because I believe it speaks to something much larger than football. It speaks to one of the most important responsibilities of leadership.

Over the years, I have observed that one of the easiest things for a leader to do when something goes wrong is to point a finger at someone else. We can find fault with employees, question the decisions of others, or identify circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes those concerns are legitimate. However, I have come to believe that before we point the finger at someone else, we must first be willing to point the thumb at ourselves.

Pointing the finger is easy. Pointing the thumb requires humility, honesty, and a willingness to examine our own actions. Did I communicate my expectations clearly? Did I provide the resources and support necessary for others to succeed? Was I available when someone needed guidance? Did I recognize a developing problem but fail to address it? Perhaps most importantly, did my own decisions or lack of action contribute to the situation?

These are not always pleasant questions, but they are necessary ones.

I have spent enough years in leadership to understand that not every problem is the direct result of something a leader has done or failed to do. People make their own decisions, and individuals must be held accountable for their actions. Pointing the thumb does not mean accepting blame for everything that happens. It means examining our own responsibility before assigning responsibility to someone else.

There is also something important about the example this sets for those we lead. When people see a leader acknowledge a mistake or accept responsibility, it creates an environment where honesty becomes more important than protecting one’s image. When leaders consistently look for someone to blame, people often become more concerned about defending themselves than finding solutions.

One lesson I continue to appreciate about leadership is that having authority does not mean always being right. A position may give us the authority to make decisions, but it does not exempt us from examining those decisions. In fact, the greater our leadership responsibility, the greater our obligation to reflect upon our own actions.

The next time something goes wrong, resist the temptation to immediately identify who is at fault. Examine your own leadership. Ask what you could have done differently, what you should have recognized sooner, and what responsibility you need to accept. Then do something about it.

Leadership is not demonstrated by how quickly we point out the failures of others, but by how willingly we confront our own shortcomings.

So, the next time you find yourself pointing a finger at someone else, remember that three fingers are pointing back at you (I’ll let you visualize that on your own). Before you demand that others do better, make certain you have challenged yourself to do the same.

Great leadership begins when we stop looking for someone to blame and start asking what we can do to make things better. Point the thumb first.

As you step into your role today, remember that you are not just an educator and leader but a shaper of the future. Your actions and decisions profoundly impact the lives of those you guide. Go, be the great educator and leader that our future needs.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2026 J Clay Norton

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