The Blame Culture
The goal he didn’t score is the one I remember. He was the greatest player of his time. He scored over a thousand goals in professional football but what I remember most was the one he missed. Put through with only the goal keeper to beat he bore down on the goal .The goal keeper raced out. Pele threw an outrageous body swerve , the goal keeper went one way the ball another. But instead of scoring the ball rolled inches wide. The commenter was ecstatic about the skill demonstrated saying that the body swerve was so good half the crowd would have to pay to get back into the ground. There was no mention of missing with only the goal keeper to beat.
This is the picture that comes into my head when people talk of the blame culture and how it stifles innovation , creativity and initiative. If the greatest player of his time can miss with only the goal keeper to beat anyone can. The point is he was the greatest and scored more goals than any one else because he played with out fear of criticism his skills flourished and his confidence made him innovative and creative.
Unfortunately this would not happen today the commentator would have said he should have scored and the player would have been vilified on social media. Professional footballers live in a blame culture. But if want to understand what not being in a blame culture looks like it’s worth remembering this incident in the World Cup.
Blair Mcpherson former Director author and blogger blairmcpherson.co.uk
