Don't let scraps with colleagues drag, learn to forgive at work

Forgiving someone can be difficult, but it is a must if you want to lead a guilt-free life ahead.

When Steve Smith and David Warner broke down in front of the media, many of their fellow cricketers and even the often punishing users of social media suggested that perhaps it was time to forgive them and the team for the ball tampering scandal that rocked the cricket world a few days ago.

Steve Smith addressing a press conference. (Image: AFP)

Their tears brought out the tender side of many sporting legends, with Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, and VVS Laxman all tweeting about how forgiveness may be the order of the day.

David Warner had to face the wrath of the media after the ball-tampering scandal. (Image: Agencies)

The workplace is as competitive as the playing field and the stakes are equally high; mistakes (big or small, deliberate or unintentional) will happen. But knowing when and why to forgive is a must. Here’s why:

Move on
Holding on to a problem means that the issue ultimately becomes your baby and tags along with you everywhere. You’re thinking about it all the time, how you were wronged, what negative effect it had on the company, what you should have said and so on.

But once you decide to forgive and let it go, your time and mental space is freed up. Not wasting time dwelling on something you cannot change is one of the best reasons to forgive someone.

A better worker
The best part of someone making a mistake (apart from making you look competent in comparison) is that it will make you more alert and improve your skill set. Learning from the mistakes of others is the best way to improve your own game. So, the least you can do is offer the other party forgiveness in return for the work lesson they have taught you.

Better together
When someone makes a mistake, especially a big one, they feel alienated from the rest of the team. And that is never a good thing. Teamwork is one of the reasons why big companies succeed and ostracising someone from the team because of a mistake will only drive a wedge in the system, which translates into poor results and overall lower productivity. Letting go of an error, including the person responsible and keeping communication channels open will ensure that work doesn’t suffer.

Add some perspective
All mistakes are not equal and so you need to exercise perspective when it comes to doling out the tolerance. Forgive too much and too quickly and you’ll be seen as a doormat. Hold on to resentment and constantly bring up mistakes, you will be seen as a rigid tyrant. So, weigh the intensity of the issue, whether it was intentional and for how long you and the organisation will feel the repercussions before deciding when and how you will forgive someone.