There is something quite pompously called ‘the fundamental attribution distortion’, one of the bias or mental traps that are in operation inside our mind, all the time. It goes like this:
If I succeed, it is because of my good disposition
If I fail it is because the circumstances
If you succeed, it is because you had favourable circumstances (you were lucky, in other words)
If you fail, its because of your character, or your inadequacy (your disposition, that is)
This powerful defense mechanism sits in front of us protecting our mental castle against any alien invasion into our territory. Some people are extremely skilful at this.
It can get ridiculous and childish. For that, see the political class around. All disasters were generated by the previous government, all successes are because of us. Parrots on camera have zero credibility for me.
‘My deserved success, your self inflicted failure’, may be handy, and cheap, and simple. It’s probably wrong (not necessarily!) but it is very often hidden in many assumptions we make about our world around.
Critical Thinking training may at the very least alert you to that, and help to find examples where this is happening in your organizational life. I can assure you, not a difficult task to find these.
Perhaps this is why it has always been called ‘fundamental distortion’ in cognitive studies. Because it is fundamental, and persistent.
The Critical Thinking approach will force you to at least consider all the opposite directions.
Believe me, this is a small step in the Spring cleaning of the mind