What Works: The power of forgiveness

This morning on my radio show, I discussed the topic of forgiveness. It’s a tough subject, especially if you have been hurt. However, forgiveness is not for the person or situation being forgiven. It’s for you. And, sometimes, the person or situation isn’t the only thing that needs to be forgiven. You need to forgive yourself as well.
Listen to the show here.

How does forgiveness relate to business? As leaders, we need to question and forgive every day. Mistakes happen and we have to retrain and rectify issues. Employees leave and we need to address the change. Coworkers rub us the wrong way and we have to decide how to act afterward. Forgiveness can transform a work place if leaders can have the courage to pause, connect, and communicate.

10 Questions You Can Ask Yourself to Pause, Connect, and Communicate

Pause: This is the moment where a leader needs to remove themselves, physically or emotionally, from the situation to engage in self questioning. The only question you don’t want to ask, when evaluating a situation where forgiveness may be in order is WHY. Why drives the mind into the story, which often serves nothing other than to bring the past into the present.

What was it about what happened where I felt wronged?
What about that wrong triggered me?
What did I expect to happen?
How can I connect with the person to bridge the gap between my expectation and what happened?

Connect: Once you pause, take a moment to connect with your intention for the communication. This means having a vulnerable discussion with yourself. You need to connect with yourself to mourn the fallen expectation and show gratitude for the lesson in the failure BEFORE communicating. Doing this helps you come from a different place when having a discussion.

What did I learn from what happened?
How will this help me moving forward?
What would I like to ask of this person?

Communicate: Set a time that is mutually convenient to speak to the person or people involved in what needs to be forgiven. If they are not accessible or you are working with something from the past, you need to set aside time to communicate with yourself to gain closure.
Allow them to speak to see their view of the situation.
Share what about the situation broke expectations.
Create a shared vision on how to move forward.

Give it a try this week. I want to know how you do! Post below or connect with me on Facebook at What Works Consultants. I look forward to hearing about your new experience with forgiveness in the workplace. The floor is yours, Carson City!

SAY HELLO AND LET’S GET INNOVATIVE TOGETHER
Listen On Your Radio or Streaming: Start your week off right by listening to “Drive Time” with Diane Dye Hansen on KNVC 95.1 from 6 am to 8 am on Monday mornings. Happy, motivational music, positive spins on negative news, interviews with people in the community who can bring joy into your life. Email diane@whatworksconsultants.com if you would like to be featured as a guest and have GREAT inspiration to share on non-commercial public radio. Stream past episodes or listen live at www.knvc.org

Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs: Spring into action on your business! Entrepreneur’s Assembly, Carson City chapter meets Wednesday, October 10, 2018 in The Studio at Adams Hub for Innovation and every second Wednesday of each month. Free mastermind group. The Carson City chapter was voted Entrepreneur’s Assembly Chapter of the Year 2017. 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

NEED GUIDANCE? GET IT FREE: Did you know I meet with anyone for 30 minutes over the phone at no cost? You can book a complimentary session with me now at www.whatworksconsultants.com

ABOUT DIANE DYE HANSEN
Diane Dye Hansen has more than 20 years of experience in communication and change management gained in the sectors of government, non-profit, healthcare, publishing, advertising, entertainment, and technology. Her Critical Opportunity Theory helps organizations turn challenge into opportunity.

She is the president and founder of What Works Consultants, Inc., a consulting firm which helps business leaders and those who lead government and non-profit organizations understand the people who matter most and communicate to them in a strategic and meaningful way.

This is done through research, strategic communication planning, change management consulting, human resources recruitment and training. She is the host of Drive Time – Your Motivational Drive in the Morning on KNVC, Carson City Community Radio, a regular columnist on CarsonNow.org, is the chapter lead of Carson City Entrepreneurs Assembly and is on the board of directors for Proscenium Players, Inc, Carson City’s longest running theater company. And, to answer your question, yes she does sleep. To meet her and learn how she and her team can help your company, visit What Works Consultants, Inc. online at www.whatworksconsultants.com