Scapegoating is best defined as:

Scapegoating is best understood as the act of shifting the blame for a problem away from oneself. This behavior involves an individual or group projecting responsibility for a failure or wrongdoing onto another person or group, often to deflect criticism or maintain a positive self-image. In organizational contexts, this can manifest when a leader blames subordinates for a team's poor performance or when a group faces negative outcomes and collectively identifies an external party as the source of their issues.

This dynamic can create a divisive atmosphere, as it often leads to the unjust vilification of the scapegoat while allowing the actual responsible parties to evade accountability. Recognizing scapegoating is crucial because it can hinder problem-solving and accountability within teams or organizations, ultimately affecting performance and morale.

The other choices present concepts related to responsibility and initiative, but they do not capture the essence of scapegoating. Acknowledging one's own mistakes or taking responsibility reflects accountability, while encouraging others to take initiative fosters empowerment and leadership, both of which contrast sharply with the act of scapegoating.