FORGIVENESS AND LEADERSHIP
In
many organizations it has been difficult for leaders to build a bright future
for themselves and their organizations because of lack of forgiveness.
Leaders are trapped in temptations to revenge especially those who opposed the leader's rise to power. Great leaders are people who should forgive no matter what offence. These are people of reconciliation who are not after settling scores and this benefit the organizations they lead. Many organizational leaders tend to instill fear in their followers by lack of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a platform of growth and creativity for followers to also become leaders.
Leaders are trapped in temptations to revenge especially those who opposed the leader's rise to power. Great leaders are people who should forgive no matter what offence. These are people of reconciliation who are not after settling scores and this benefit the organizations they lead. Many organizational leaders tend to instill fear in their followers by lack of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a platform of growth and creativity for followers to also become leaders.
In
the Bible we have a character by the name Joseph. He was very much loved by his
father but all this brothers hated him (Gen. 37:3). As if it was not enough,
his narration of his dreams to them made them to hate him even more (Gen 37:4).
His brothers could not hold peaceful conversation with him. He was threatened
with death, sold to the Midianites and ended up being a slave in Egypt (Gen.
37:26-27). As a slave, he was accused of rape which was an untruth and thrown
in prison (Gen 39:7-20). Because of all
these experiences Joseph
could have been justified to retaliate but he chose to forgive his brothers. He
recognized that God was with him in his sufferings and that these were from the
loving hand of a sovereign God.
“And as for
you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good …” (Genesis 50:20)
When
we learn from Joseph we can see that forgiveness is a conscious decision on the
part of the offended party to release the offender from the penalty and guilt
of the offense committed. The benefit of forgiveness to any leader is that it not
only frees the offender from guilt and punishment, but it also frees the
forgiver of anger and bitterness. Many organizations do not grow because of
unforgiving leaders. It is critical to note that unresolved anger leads to
bitterness, hostility, and revenge but forgiveness leads to freedom and
reconciliation and an outlook on the future of the organization.
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