Thank you for listening to The Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher! How do you feel when you say, "I'm sorry?" It takes courage to not only admit you're wrong but also allow other people to choose to forgive you (or not). However, when leaders create a culture where asking for forgiveness is normal, they create strong, connected, productive, and creative cultures! Today, we're discussing why forgiveness is a powerful leadership strategy and how to use it with your team.
Here is what leaders need to know about forgiveness:
Asking for forgiveness is not the same as giving an apology.
When you ask for forgiveness, you give power to the other person by allowing them the option to forgive you (or not). You have put yourself in their hands. Leaders who ask for forgiveness are displaying immense vulnerability and humility.
2. Asking for forgiveness takes some reflection.
You need to understand what you did and how it might have hurt or undermined the other person. Forgiveness—both asking for and granting it—builds trust and reinforces connection, creating stronger bonds and deeper intimacy than ever.
3. Leaders' capacity for forgiveness directly affects their effectiveness with those they lead.
Unless people know forgiveness is possible with you, they will not tell you the truth when you most need to hear it. If you create a culture without the expectation of forgiveness, you will see people hiding mistakes, telling secrets behind your back, covering up for one another, and so on.
4. Forgiveness is only the beginning of the journey. Redemption is truly the prize.
People must know there is a path to redemption when they mess up. The goal of forgiveness is not just about getting back in their good graces. Redemption allows you to restore their integrity. Without redemption, you risk people leaving the company because they feel defeated and will never gain your approval. When we help our people find redemption, not only do we save them from leaving, but ultimately, we are helping them grow through their blunders or missteps.
5. Forgiving provides a degree of freedom.
Offering a clear path to redemption allows you to regain your trust in your team members and–more importantly–gives people a path to regain their trust in themselves.
6. Forgiveness fosters risk-taking and adaptability in the workplace.
The last thing you want in your organization is a team of people playing it safe. People trying to avoid making mistakes will not grow or innovate. Employees who think this way tend to have low morale and risk-averse business cultures, which create stagnation in your business. When a leader is tactful at forgiving, people feel free to make mistakes without judgment. As a result, productivity, engagement, and responsiveness will all increase.
Application Activities:
Think about how you respond when you mess up. Do you tend to hide your mistakes? Or do you ask for forgiveness? Challenge yourself to increase your openness and vulnerability the next time you make a mistake. Simply adding the phrase, "Will you forgive me?" can go a long way to building a culture where forgiveness is normal!
On a scale of 1-10, how willing is your team to take risks? Ask your team for some feedback to ensure you have a good understanding of their current mindset. Ask questions like, "Have you taken any risks at work to help improve your performance in the last month? What crazy idea do you have for our team? How do you think it would help us if it worked out? What has prevented you from trying your idea?" Then, consider how you can help your team feel more willing to take risks. Consider how you respond to mistakes one-on-one, in groups, and in front of your peers. Don't forget to consider how you respond to your mistakes. You can help your team grow and develop by becoming more aware of your tendencies.
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