{"id":3839,"date":"2023-09-24T18:33:21","date_gmt":"2023-09-24T18:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outsideangle.com\/?p=3839"},"modified":"2023-09-24T18:33:22","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T18:33:22","slug":"forgiveness-is-a-key-leadership-skill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outsideangle.com\/blog\/forgiveness-is-a-key-leadership-skill\/","title":{"rendered":"Forgiveness Is A Key Change Leadership Skill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In Judaism, this time of year<\/a> is an intentional end of a cycle<\/a>. In this period, we reflect on the year that has passed (and perhaps also the many years before it) and we specifically shine a spotlight on the people we have been to ourselves and to others. We evaluate the grudges we may be holding and identify the ways that we may have ignited grudges in others. And then, we take action to resolve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These actions include acknowledging and asking for forgiveness for the ways that we may have harmed others, but also granting forgiveness to those whose harms continue to affect us emotionally (if not otherwise). Almost every religion weighs in on forgiveness\u2014some cyclically, and others as a general, on-going practice. Forgiveness is also a cornerstone of Stoic philosophy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That forgiveness appears in so many religious and philosophical doctrines is no coincidence. In any community, harboring the pain that comes from being harmed by another\u2019s behavior can be deeply damaging. It not only erodes relationships, it also undermines a person\u2019s sense of peace and access to happiness. Forgiveness creates an opportunity to let go of the intangible things that aren\u2019t serving a person, and it can be an incredibly powerful process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to relationships at work, where we are so often running at warp speed, just trying to keep head above water to get everything on our infinite to do lists done, opportunities to harm someone else abound. We can fail to communicate effectively, fail to exercise empathy, fail to be kind, and fail to give productive feedback. And we can fail to notice that we have done any of those things. Yet, at work especially, we almost never consider forgiveness to be a core practice in our effectiveness as coworkers or as leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Negative feelings toward your coworkers can take up a great deal of mental and emotional real estate, and they can get in the way of working effectively together. If you\u2019re holding onto them, they may be the root of dysfunction in your relationship, and reverberate across your team and your entire organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal of forgiveness is to let go of the cycle of negative thoughts and emotions that come with feeling violated, including those that come with feeling regret over having violated someone else. Often we hold onto regret when we unintentionally harm someone, or when we realize what we have done. And we hold onto pain associated with being violated by constantly replaying the transgression in our mind. Especially when these cycles have been ongoing for some period of time, they become habits that are hard to break. As such, forgiveness is not a single act. It is also an ongoing practice; a habit unto itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Forgiveness Matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Forgiveness Is One of Your Most Powerful Tools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Critical Acts of Forgiveness<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Act #1: Reflection<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n