Why People Blame Tools

I had several experiences this week where I read or listened to someone talk about using tools. The first was a post I shared on Tuesday from Seth Godin with the second being a podcast episode by David duChemin, “It’s Not the Tool”. Both got me thinking about why we blame tools instead of looking at the real problem, ourselves. Here’s three reasons (there could be more).

1. It protects our ego. We all have a healthy ego and will do whatever it takes to protect it. Instead of being humble and using the tool within it’s constraints, we hide behind; “I can’t do ______ because (of insert tool) or (I don’t have _____). We protect the fact that we maybe don’t have the knowledge or skills to use the tools available to us properly. If it’s the tool’s fault, it’s not mine and I don’t look bad.
2. It’s easy to do. It takes zero effort and imagination to blame the tool. Unless you’re good at making up creative excuses. Then, that might take a little imagination, so maybe it takes a little effort. Still easy. Blame the tool and move on to the next thing. We like easy because it’s comfortable.
3. Takes away the responsibility to execute. If you execute, you have to show your work, which can invite criticism. And since we don’t want to deal with that, we blame the tool so we don’t have to deliver.

I’ll leave you with a quote from the podcast I referenced earlier. It will be one I’ll be looking at as a daily reminder.

“Time spent blaming our tools is time we are not engaging our imaginations to overcome the limitations of those tools.” David duChemin