The Secret of Successful Teamwork: Forgiveness

“We are allies.” — Reid Hoffman

When teammates hold a grudge— Pic by rawpixel /Unsplash

“We are allies.” — Reid Hoffman

Those three simple words define a successful team, according to LinkedIn’s co-founder.

“We are allies” is more than a motivational team motto — it’s a reminder of the need for a true partnership. Each team member is autonomous — everyone voluntarily comes together to work towards a shared ambition.

But what happens when resentment takes over?

That’s the problem when one teammate bears a grudge against another — a small incident quickly escalates and tears the team apart. Unforgiveness drives toxicity — it turns team members into foes.

The Challenges of Forgiveness at Work

“The health of an organization is measured by the lag time between when you feel it and discuss it.” — Joseph Grenny

Last week, I was working with the leadership team of a successful financial services company — tensions were growing as fast as its revenue. People didn’t trust each other and had a hard time looking each other into the eye.