The following is from Spiritually Aligned Leadership by Yvonne Thompson

The act of forgiveness is a fundamental tool for the Spiritually Aligned New World Leaders.   We have all been wronged at some time or felt that we have been betrayed or disrespected.  Some people’s stories include very sad and horrific past wrongdoings that make it incredible difficult for them to forgive.  Yet, forgiveness is fundamental for leaders and organizations as a whole. 

I have coached individuals for many years that have been impacted by aggressive bullying behavior in the workplace and the power of forgiveness is so important.  In order for a person who is impacted by this extremely negative and disrespectful behaviour to move on and become an empowered and self-responsible contributor, they must work with the  tools of the Accountability Model to create forgiveness.  Sometimes creating empathy and understanding for the perpetrator is essential.  With the knowing that those who hurt people are hurting themselves, we can begin the process of understanding.  We acknowledge that what they did will never be OK; however, making the commitment to feel better with positive emotions is essential for those impacted.  In order to take their own power back, they must first understand that they are responsible for wat they think and feel.  They must step away from the victim mentality knowing that it will never serve them because of the negative emotions attached.  If they want to feel better, they must change what they think about the situation and the emotions that result.

There seems to be a common belief that forgiveness is about the perpetrator, and that the victim needs to find a way to make what happened OK.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  We need to understand that the act of forgiveness heals and frees the person who does the forgiving, the focus is within and not necessarily about the perpetrator.  Most people will never forget and completely let go of the damages created by a very negative relationship.  However, in the right context, we can find ways to shift the energy around these events to one of healing and personal transformation.  The events can become catalysts that propel us forward in a positive way. 

Forgiveness brings amazing gifts to the forgiver, relief that could never be felt without a full and complete understanding of the intense value of forgiveness.  You have to be willing to look for the signs.  You have to observe and monitor your thoughts around these negative situations and ask yourself: Are my thought good feeling thoughts?  Do my thoughts serve me in a positive way?  Leaders and employees who feel they have been wronged benefit greatly when they begin to consider forgiveness, which frees the person and allows them to move on with positive energy and heightened empowerment.