Leadership and Forgiveness

One of the defining characteristics of human nature is the ability to discern one’s own faults, to be broken as the result of such faults, and in response, to seek a meaningful change (French, 2003). Love, forgiveness, and trust are critical foundation values of leasers in transforming lives and sustaining relationships (Caldwell & Dixon, 2010) Forgiveness can facilitate that change. Forgiveness is something that I am very familiar with as I struggle with in my life. Forgiveness is a mental pushing off point that is acted out by moving forward in life and moving past the wrong doing. Forgiveness is not forgetfulness and does not allow the wrong doer the right to do wrong again to the one that has forgiven. As an employer and leader in a for-profit and a non-profit organization I have learned forgiveness. There is a time and place for forgiveness. Forgiveness and reconciliation have been shown to be beneficial alternatives to revenge as responses to an interpersonal offense in the workplace (Palanski, 2012). As a leader revenge and retaliation are not only the wrong paths they can lead to intemperate and callous leaders (Johnson, 2012). Leaders have a responsibility to themselves; their organizations, and their followers, leaders who do forgive have a greater respect and trust within their circles (Johnson, 2012). I believe that the first mental process of forgiveness is empathy and to have true forgiveness you have to have internal values of love, forgiveness, and trust.

Acts 26:18 says to open their eyes and turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. This passage from Acts shows that forgivenes...

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...tinue to follow my core values which are my guidelines within the organization, if does not follow my core values then it does not belong in my organization. It is a forgiving leader that can facilitate the healing and uplifting of others and self (French, 2003).

Works Cited

Caldwell, C., & Dixon, R. D. (2010). Love, Forgiveness, and Trust: Critical Values of the Modern Leader. Journal of Business Ethics, 91-101.

French, S. R. (2003). Servant-Leadership, Forgiveness, and Social Justice. Voices of Servant-Leadership Series, Booklet 9. Indianapolis, Indiana: The Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership.

Johnson, C. E. (2012). Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Palanski, M. E. (2012, September). Forgiveness and Reconciliation in the Workplace: A Multi-Level Perspective and Research Agenda. Journal of Business Ethics, 109(3), 275-287.