4 Common Excuses to Avoid at Work – Why They Undermine Your Credibility

“I didn’t know it was my responsibility to follow up on this file.”

This excuse signals a lack of project understanding and engagement. It portrays you as passive, lacking initiative and ambition—qualities essential for career growth.

“I lost my computer file.”

Blaming technology might have worked a decade ago, but with reliable backups, cloud storage, and email recovery, it now marks you as out of touch with modern tools—a serious professional liability.

“My bus was stuck in the tunnel for 1 hour.”

While it may evoke initial sympathy, repeating it erodes trust. You'll be viewed as unreliable, disorganized, or even dishonest.

“It’s accounting’s fault.”

Finger-pointing comes across as immature. Instead, brief your boss on the issue and outline your proposed solution to demonstrate accountability and leadership.

Insights from Karine Aubry, experienced business coach at www.kolibricoaching.com.