Forgive and Lead

Especially for leaders, forgiveness and the ability to forgive on their feet is absolutely essential. They must forgive in the moment when someone does or says something that offends or hurts them; forgive when someone fails to keep their word or makes a mistake on the job, and most importantly, leaders must forgive themselves! Forgiveness is crucial to avoid wasting precious time or energy being resentful, or falling into the trap of doing everything yourself again out of distrust. And yes, there is always plenty of forgiving to be done!

Forgiveness is about regaining your power. As long as you hold onto resentment—whether toward another person or yourself—it has power over you, making you a captive instead of the leader you're meant to be. When you forgive, you reclaim control over your life and your personal power. You let go of the stress that comes with resentment or hurt, offering yourself an immediate sense of relief. You can choose to forgive, even when your emotions or fears are telling you otherwise. Forgiveness means being willing to be vulnerable, take risks, stop being a victim, and give up the need to be right.

Forgiving on your feet takes practice.
It may seem difficult at first, but the way to improve your ability to forgive is to practice—again and again! Life presents countless opportunities each day to forgive in the moment: not knowing the "right" thing to do in a critical situation, the banker cutting off your line of credit, being cut off on the freeway, the server taking too long to bring your check, your son spilling a gallon of juice on the carpet, or a member of your executive team losing a major account. Every time you recognize a new frustration or anger, practice letting go quickly. You simply have to choose a forgiving attitude in those moments.

Great leaders forgive quickly.
Leaders know that holding onto resentment or a grudge robs them of their ability to lead effectively. They must forgive and move on in order to stay on course and achieve what they’ve set out to do, by the time they said they would. Leaders also understand that forgiveness is 100% their responsibility. The true power of forgiveness lies in the fact that it has nothing to do with the other person—it’s all about YOU. It’s about letting go of hurt and judgments, whether of yourself or others. Forgiveness is a precious gift you give yourself, your self-esteem, and your relationships. It’s entirely in your control. So, make a conscious effort to be more forgiving—not only to others, but to yourself. In doing so, you’ll find your heart lighter, your mind clearer, and your ability to lead more effortlessly.