Throwing someone under the bus might save you today. But everyone watching just learned where you’d put them.

Shifting the blame tends to work in the short term, which is the trap in it. You leave the room intact, and everybody watching has just learned what you do under pressure. They will not say anything about it, and they will remember next time something goes wrong nearby. You bought one afternoon and paid with everyone’s willingness to stand beside you.

When something goes wrong, say your part first and say it plainly. If somebody else made the mistake, take it to them directly instead of in front of an audience. Not throwing people is worth more than any single bad day.