Forgiveness in the Workplace, When was the last time you heard a coworker say “I’m sorry” or a leader say “I forgive you”? These expressions had been ingrained in us since we were youngsters, but they appeared to have vanished on the walk to work. Forgiveness is more than simply a good concept, according to 20 years of study, yet it is seldom practiced in the workplace.
Perhaps we are hesitant to grant forgiveness in the workplace because it has a religious connotation. However, I believe that isolating forgiveness as a spiritual tool prevents us from completely embracing its potential as a tool for self-help at work, both physically and emotionally.
When we continue in a condition of non-forgiveness, we experience bodily signs of stress that are all too frequent.
Forgiveness may improve the quality of our professional relationships and bring teams closer together in open communication. It may impact company values and form corporate culture as a leadership competence. If forgiveness is promoted and practiced at all levels, it may have far-reaching positive impacts throughout companies.
Forgiveness is beneficial for your health, according to scientific research! For example, University of Tennessee researchers discovered a substantial link between forgiveness and blood pressure and stress. People who forgave more readily had lower resting blood pressure and pulse rate than those who did not forgive as easily, according to the study.
Furthermore, those who were “high forgivers” were more inclined to strive harder to overcome disagreement and had healthier relationships as a consequence. People who have forgiven others had reduced levels of physical discomfort, rage, and sadness, according to a Duke University Medical Center research.
Forgiveness in the Workplace
Forgiveness, on the other hand, does not have to include the perpetrator in any way. It is a personal decision. By letting go of our rage and resentment, we may avoid the isolation, low self-esteem, and poor self-care that can lead to stress-related diseases.
Instead of being a source of weakness, forgiveness may be a source of strength.
With too many deadlines, too many meetings, not enough resources, and continuous shareholder pressure, forgiveness needs practice, patience, and humility, all of which might be in short supply at work. Here are some suggestions to help you incorporate forgiveness into your everyday life and reap the benefits:
Get into the mentality of forgiving.
Rather than presuming that others are trying to get you, assume the best. If you are always distrustful of others, even the smallest wrong can be amplified, hardening your heart against forgiveness. Accept that others have mistreated you, that it may or may not have been deliberate, and that you are the only one who can keep it alive.
Define forgiveness in your way.
How do you define forgiveness? What is your experience with forgiveness? Forgiveness affects people in many ways. You are more likely to take action on what you can forgive if you create a definition that suits you rather than attempting to impress others.
Make a list of everything you want to do.
We don’t always know how many grudges we have, and how they may be affecting our health. In my office, I had a manager who was suffering from stress-related symptoms such as hair loss, weight loss, gastrointestinal pain, and depression.
As we discussed her physical and mental state, she revealed that she had been engaged with the organization’s leadership for adopting a policy change four years prior that she believed had badly impacted staff.
She described how she couldn’t get over her rage at the policy change, and how it consumed her thoughts every day.
I asked her to write a list of any additional resentments she had harbored during the previous four years. She was startled to discover that she had grievances against not just her bosses, but also her coworkers.
We discovered that she was having trouble feeling powerful at work when we addressed the resentment behind each grudge. Her ideas were disregarded, and she was neglected, she believed. We devised a forgiveness action plan to release her physically and emotionally from the resentment that had caused the grudges to begin with.
Exercising “letting go” is beneficial.
Change yourself and other perceptions. Stop expecting perfection from yourself and others. There are no such things as ideal individuals. Allow yourself to let go of the hurt, to release the suffering, and to be free of shame. You might get ill as a result of emotional constraints.
It takes time to forgive. Patience is required. It will not happen right away. Forgiveness is a process rather than a one-time occurrence.
Speak with someone who can assist you in remaining objective.
With a close friend, a family member, a church person, or a therapist, talk about the sentiments you have about forgiveness. They can hold up the metaphorical mirror to your face, allowing you to see what’s going on.
Read also: How To Forgive Someone Who Has Hurt You?
Read also: Is Forgiveness Really Needed to Find Peace?
