Something went wrong. Publicly. The CEO holds a town hall.
“I take full responsibility.”
No one is fired. Nothing changes. No policy is revised. But the CEO said the words, and saying the words is the same as doing something — in a town hall.
“I take full responsibility” is the most meaningless sentence in corporate English. It has never once been followed by an actual consequence for the person saying it. It’s a verbal sacrifice — you offer the words so you don’t have to offer anything else.