Question: Repond with 150 words and 1 direct question
Several years ago while serving in the military I was involved in a situation where I was dealt with unjustly. Near the end of our deployment our company was tasked with a mission that required several weeks of living in the field. To make a long story short before leaving on the mission several of the trucks that were assigned to our platoon were being used by another company. At the time I was the platoon RTO (radio transmit operator) and responsible for the radios in each of the trucks. Knowing I was responsible for the radio's I gave very detailed instructions to keep accountability of the radio's.
The day before leaving on the mission my platoon leader and I had to do 100% accountability on sensitive items which included the radios. With the inventory of sensitive items complete the following day the company was in the field conducting the mission. Several weeks into the mission I was called to the company commanders tent. When I arrived the commander, 1Sgt and Company FO were in the tent waiting. Once in the tent the command stated that the battalion commander wanted 100 % accountability on all sensitive items and that one of the radio's in the truck used by the other company was missing. I explained that I gave specific instructions were the radio needed to be stored after the other company was done using the truck. For several minutes I explained myself then the company commander cut me off and said he thought is very convenient that I helped the platoon leader complete the sensitive items inventory then the radio goes missing.
I knew that I didn't take the radio but the commander and FO were convinced that I had taken the radio. The command began to threaten me by saying he was going to file a statement of charges for the radio at $10,000 dollars then give me a several company grade article 15's for several violations. As the commander continued the verbal assault the 1Sgt came and told the commander he was being requested on his radio. A few moments later the commander returned and said I was free to return to my platoon without any explanation.
Later I learned that the radio was recovered in the truck were it was last seen because the soldiers failed to follow my instructions and instead took the radio out and put it in a storage box in the back of the truck. Needless to say I was less then impressed with how the commander handled the situation. I was upset because we had been deployed for 11 months and I had proven myself to be trustworthy and honest and was disappointed in the commander because he assumed that I took the radio. Yes, I moved through the states identified by Dr. Enright, it took a long time but as Dr. Enright describes "I was able to have a goodness toward the commander that was stronger than his injustice".
In my experience forgiveness was two fold. First because of what happened I was so angry that I allowed the negative feelings and emotions influence my actions which negatively effected my military career progression and created a tense workplace environment. So through forgiveness I was able to again be excited about progressing in my career. Also by harboring negative feelings I began to dislike the commander on a personal level and began to think that he was an unethical leader and unfit to preform his duties. As time went by and I began to forgive the commander I better understood that mistakes are made and will continue to be made, but that I had taken the situation to far by continuing to fester a deep personal dislike of the commander.
When I fully forgave I was able to accept the commander's guidance and to again be an integral part of the company's success. Through this experience I learned a valuable lesson of the importance of individual and workplace forgiveness. Aquino, Grover, Goldman, & Folger (2003) explain why forgiveness matters in the workplace. By forgiving in the workplace individuals are able to repair damaged relationships and overcome unpleasant thoughts and emotions.
If left unchecked these "feelings grow into resentment and anger, and interfere with performance and productivity" (p.210). I found that by failing to forgive it effected both my personal and workplace performance and production. Through the choices I made I stunted my ability to grow personally and professionally and was only able to see the damning effects of choice I made after I had sincerely forgiven.
Aquino, K., Grover, S. L., Goldman, B., & Folger, R. (2003). When push doesn''t come to shove: Interpersonal forgiveness in workplace relationships. Journal of Management Inquiry,12(3), 209-216. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/203315468?accountid=8289
Enright, R. (2011, Jan 10). Interview with Dr. Robert Enright on leading and the forgiving light. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duCXYEXssxI