Have you ever had a team member make a costly mistake that reflects poorly on your whole team? It can be natural to feel frustration. In business, they say it’s just work—not personal. The reality is that those affected by workplace events aren’t robots; they’re human, and people feel the impact. The two most common reactions to frustration at work are to either respond quickly or ignore the problem and hope it goes away. But there’s a third option: practicing professional forgiveness, which strengthens our working relationships and improves the quality of our business decisions.
What is Professional Forgiveness, Really?
Professional forgiveness means extending patience and grace to others in the workplace when they ruffle our feathers. It is addressing the problem constructively and moving forward with optimism. Professional forgiveness isn’t about letting someone get away with harmful behavior; it’s about resolving conflicts in a way that promotes growth and trust.
Setting healthy boundaries and focusing on solutions positively impacts team dynamics and reduces workplace tension. In reality, forgiveness is less a moral choice than a practical one – it allows issues to be addressed while fostering unity. That is good for business!
Professional Forgiveness is Selfish – In a Good Way
At first glance, forgiveness seems all about thinking of others, but it benefits you just as much as those you forgive. Maybe even more!
For one, a reputation for being firm but fair can earn you respect and influence in the workplace, potentially impacting promotions and raises. Even if you’re not in a leadership role, leading by example can cultivate a positive work environment, and others will view you as a leader.
Not to mention, practicing forgiveness also flexes those Power Skills muscles. Communication, Problem-Solving, Collaborative Leadership, Strategic Thinking, etc. – all those skills benefit from incorporating forgiveness. Show me someone who practices professional forgiveness, and I’ll show you someone with Emotional Intelligence and maturity.
Forgiveness Fosters Trust
At the core of being a good professional and leader is building trust and building teams. Forgiveness will go a long way towards strengthening professional relationships. To lead in this way requires some courage. To build that trust, you must tackle tough topics head-on. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that avoiding a difficult situation will help everyone move on faster. Spoiler: It won’t. Avoiding a problem often leads to avoiding a person, which leads to disjointed teams, tension, stress, and burnout. Say goodbye to collaboration and innovation!
For example, consider a project manager on your team who missed an important deadline due to a miscommunication. Instead of reprimanding them harshly, addressing the issue constructively shows forgiveness. This approach encourages open communication and signals that mistakes are opportunities to learn, not punishments. It builds a team culture where people feel safe addressing issues rather than hiding them.
James fostering relationships with fellow project managers.
Putting Professional Forgiveness Into Practice
To make forgiveness part of your professional life, try these strategies:
- Pause Before Reacting – If something upsets you, take a beat. Let emotions cool before responding. A 24-hour rule, if possible, can work wonders.
- Assume the Best Intentions – Approach misunderstandings with curiosity. A simple, honest conversation can often dissolve tension before it grows, especially if the truth is a hard one to share.
- Reflect and Reset – If you find yourself holding on to resentment, take time to process it—ideally before addressing it. Forgiveness doesn’t mean ignoring your feelings but deciding to prioritize peace.
- Be Quick to Apologize – When the shoe is on the other foot, bring up the subject yourself; don’t wait for the injured party to come to you.
Practicing forgiveness in your personal life can also make it easier at work. For example, my dad left me and mom when I was two. He was absent, and my memories of him were mostly negative. Years later, he called to tell me he had a few days to live. I said, “I want you to know that I forgive you for everything.” Forgiving him didn’t excuse his actions. It might have set him free or put him at ease; I don’t know. However, I do know it set me free. This experience taught me that forgiveness is about letting go of resentment, a lesson just as valuable in the workplace.
Being Mindful Helps Us Be Forgiving
Mindfulness can help create a calm mindset, making it easier to handle challenging situations with empathy. Here are some mindful practices that have worked for me:
- Active Listening
I do my best to keep my mind present in every conversation. I’m not listening to respond. I’m focusing on what they are saying. There are responses and reflections during active listening. This practice builds mutual respect, reduces misunderstanding, and makes it easier to forgive when tensions arise. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
- Setting Intentions
I take time before every difficult meeting to affirm my purpose. I ask myself: How can I help this person learn and grow? How can I approach this with empathy? What outcome is best for everyone involved? Setting positive intentions guides my responses and makes me less likely to react in frustration.
- Meditation
I have a mindful routine that I practice every day. It starts by being thankful to be alive. Then I do something that brings me joy: go get an unsweet almond milk latte with a bit of cinnamon powder steamed in, talk to my mom on the way to get the latte, share a joke or meme with a friend, and likely watch a sunrise on the drive back home. I think about folks in my life; maybe say a little prayer or call them on the phone during the 15 minutes back from the coffee shop.
Each of these practices helps ground me and cultivate the inner calm necessary for forgiveness, allowing me to approach workplace challenges without holding onto resentment. If you aspire to improve your reactions at work, start small. Choose one instance where you can extend some extra grace. It’s easy just to be around and work with people you like or are like you. It takes effort to care about others enough to forgive, build a relationship, and help them grow—even if they are not like you. You might find that forgiving others sets you free and opens up growth opportunities for yourself.