Forgiveness at Work
During a coffee break in workshop a few years ago, Megan asked if she could have a quiet word with me. Two years prior, she had applied for a position in the company and was passed over for someone else. She heard through the grapevine that she was the best candidate, but was never given any explanation as to why she did not get the job. I could see the pain on Megan’s face. She was angry at the management of the company, and it was literally eating away at her. I was not surprised when she told me that she was suffering from a serious illness. I coached her as best as I could in the few minutes, and urged her to let go of the anger towards those whom she felt had wronged her.
I see a lot of pain like Megan’s in the workplace through the work I do in strategy facilitation and leadership coaching. I see the pain of men and women who work hard, qualify themselves, achieve results and yet are passed over for promotion; the pain of being terminated after years of hard work, sacrifice and loyalty to the organization; the pain of people hurt by insensitive and abusive bosses and coworkers. People suffer in silence. Yet they also speak loudly by their actions. They withdraw, they resist, they work to the minimum. I often allow “venting time” in workshops for participants to just get out some of their feelings. For I know that there is no way they could move forward to create and implement strategy if they are feeling hurt, unheard and taken advantage of. This pain affects productivity, customer service and profitability.
The pain is toxic. It permeates the organizational culture and perpetuates itself. It spreads beyond those who feel wronged. The solution to the pain that each person feels is forgiveness. Forgiveness has its place at work, just as much as in our personal lives. In Megan’s case, the incident with the promotion happened two years prior. As far as everyone in the organization was concerned, it was over. Yet Megan replayed it and relived it everyday. The only way for her to release her hurt was to forgive those whom she felt had hurt her.
In the climb to the top, chances are you have been, or felt wronged by someone. Are you carrying this hurt all the way up the organizational ladder? If so, it’s a heavy burden that if not slowing you down, makes the climb less joyous. Forgiving frees you from that burden, so that you can put your energy into leading the people in your organization to achieve their very best.
TAKE ONE ACTION
Please join Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 30-day Forgiveness Challenge. It only takes about 5 to 10 minutes per day. Try identifying someone at work who you feel has wronged you and work on forgiving them.
INTERESTING LINKS
INTERESTING LINKS
Meetings are the bane of busy executives. Calculate how much time your meetings “cost” and then take action if you don’t like the answer!
– click to view video + article
Excellent article on the difference between strategy and planning. Make sure that you know the difference. It could make the difference between future success or failure of your company.
– click to view article
While this is common, people need to engage in extra curricular activities to take off some of the unwanted attention to negative behavior. Run, walk, play something….or seek other job opportunities.