Redefine Success
I’m not a big football fan, and I don’t profess to understand the rules of the game, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the wonderful World Cup events created within our communities and within our social care settings.
However, the reaction to the loss against Argentina ignited something in me, and it wasn’t the familiar rush to identify who was to blame (the Manager!) that seemed to be flooding conversations, social media and press coverage. It was my reflection on social care, where the stakes are different, but the human dynamics can be very similar.
When something does not go to plan in a care setting, the easiest response is often to look for one person to hold responsible. But if blame becomes the default way of managing difficult events, we risk missing the deeper learning: what influenced the decision-making, what pressures were present, what systems shaped the outcome, and what support the team needed in that moment.
Psychological safety matters because people need to feel able to speak honestly when things go wrong. Managers need to be able to say, “I made a call, this was my thinking, and this is what I would do differently next time.” Care teams need to feel safe to raise concerns, challenge decisions, share near misses and admit uncertainty without fear that openness will be used against them.
Without that safety, the consequences are significant. Managers may become defensive or isolated. Teams may stay silent. Important learning may be lost. Practice can become risk-averse rather than person-centred. Ultimately, the quality of care can suffer because people are focused on protecting themselves rather than improving together.
Accountability is essential in social care — but accountability without reflection becomes blame. Real accountability asks better questions: What happened? Why did it make sense at the time? What can we learn? What needs to change in the system, the support, the communication or the culture?
Whether in sport or social care, leadership is tested most when things do not go to plan. The response we choose in those moments shapes trust, confidence and future performance. A culture of blame may feel decisive in the short term, but a culture of reflection builds safer teams, stronger leaders and better outcomes for the people we support.
Perhaps the most important question after any difficult event is not “Who can we blame?” but “How do we learn together?” In Thomas Tuchel’s later press conference following the win against France and a 3rd place win, this whole approach is visible as he talks about not compromising on spirit, togetherness and mentality. So, as I reflect, I shall be celebrating the England team’s homecoming with pride!
If your organisation is ready to strengthen a culture of quality care, Mindful Care Training and Consultancy can support you to create the conditions where leaders and teams feel safe to reflect, learn and improve. Through training and learning in dementia care, wellbeing, leadership and team development, they help social care teams build trust, develop confidence, improve practice and achieve better outcomes for the people they support.