I became the face of a mistake made by six people

Dear Delyara, I manage a project team. A major client deliverable failed because of several decisions made across months by multiple departments. I signed the final approval. That makes me accountable, and I accept that. What I did not expect was how quickly a shared failure would become my name in meetings. “Sarah’s issue.” “Sarah’s miss.” People who approved the same assumptions now speak as though they had been warning me all along. My director says leadership means owning outcomes without defensiveness. I agree, but I am beginning to understand how easily accountability becomes convenient isolation. Last week, one colleague privately apologized for not speaking up in the review meeting. I asked why she did not correct the record. She said she was afraid of damaging her own reputation. At least she was honest. Tomorrow, I present the recovery plan to executives. I will stand there alone at the front of the room while six people whose decisions are inside the mistake sit behind me taking notes.