Extending Grace in the Wake of a Lie – When a Business Partner Falls
Using LinkedIn to drive conversations we all should be having. Had a bit of a gut punch from an external partner this morning and it got me to thinking.?
There’s a strange heaviness that comes with discovering a lie, especially when the intentions behind it weren’t malicious, but misguided. In the business environment, lies are rarely born out of ill will. More often, they’re rooted in fear, fear of failure, of disappointing others, of not measuring up. And while the lie itself was never mine to tell, I’ve come to realize that the environment surrounding it might have been mine to shape. Just think about that for a minute. It took me a few.
It’s easy to focus on the betrayal of trust, but harder, and more important, to ask why the lie happened in the first place. Was the space safe enough for honesty? Did I create a culture where vulnerability could coexist with accountability? When I think about leadership at its core, I believe there is a power to create work environments that encourage truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.? To take it further, I believe it is our responsibility to do just that.? However, today my belief in what it means to lead is on shaky ground.? My head says one thing, while my gut is pushing me in a completely different direction.? I don’t like it. It is uncomfortable.? It is uneasy. But, I expect many of us have been there.
I do though find myself thinking a lot about grace this morning, even though my head tells me business is business and that many of you would advise I terminate the partnership.? But sometimes, I think a reset is the most powerful response. It’s an acknowledgment that we all stumble, and that we can grow from it, together. As much as I actually do not want to, I am choosing grace. Now, extending grace doesn’t mean dismissing the lie. Boundaries are essential. Accountability is necessary. That hard conversation has been had. But, as 2025 approaches, I hold onto an optimistic view. Not because I’ll ignore the missteps, but because I see the opportunity that extends beyond them. We can get caught up in the lie, or we can recognize the magic that can emerge from facing it head-on. The choice is ours.
领英推荐
I’ve fully acknowledge that the next chapter of this story hasn’t been written yet. But I know this: today, I choose tomorrow. I choose to believe that through honesty, grace, and shared accountability, there’s room to build something better. And, I encourage us all to do the same.
Let’s choose to write a future shaped by trust, understanding, and the courage to reset.
What say you?? Let’s have an honest conversation.? Will this become the next thriller with the same old ending?? Does history always repeat itself?? Are people fundamentally good, but sometimes flawed? Honestly, join the conversation and share your advice.
Director of Product Marketing
1 个月Being brave enough to inject personal faith and strength into what could be dismissed as "just business" is the core of being a good leader, if you ask me. You did the hard thing, and yet most likely the right thing for karma in the long term. Let them fail on their own terms but with your benevolent support all the way. This is a key element in elevating "just business" to a higher calling, one that brings a quiet joy beyond just another day at work. Well done, I say, and a wonderful topic to bring to light!
VP, Lead Analyst at Opus - Helping us all have better customer experiences
1 个月As someone who tries (not always succeeds) in seeing the best in folks, I see this as a time to test the depth of your empathy. See if you can discover where the behavior came from, what motivated the lie, what were the hoped for outcomes, what future that partner was expecting, and so on. And then try to see yourself in any or all of those things. This is akin to your idea "while the lie itself was never mine to tell, I’ve come to realize that the environment surrounding it might have been mine to shape."
CEO & Analyst @Metrigy | Speaker | Thought leader | CX Transformation | AI | Contact Center
1 个月I lean toward forgiveness, providing the person has acknowledged (and hopefully explained the reason for) the lie--and has asked for forgiveness. I don't see any hard lines between business or personal life on this topic. That said, we can forgive, but not forget. What I mean by that is the lie has consequences, whether we like it or not. Maybe you will change the environment you create to discourage the behavior. Maybe you will protect yourself more in the future from the person. Sure, perhaps a relationship continues, but that relationship will be different. People can earn back trust and confidence, but that takes time. These are tough situations, but I always go back to my faith. God doesn't want us to hold on to grudges or lack grace. After all, look at what He does for all of us! I say you learn from it, make changes where needed, and move forward--leaving any anger and bitterness behind because you have a plan moving forward. (And that sounds exactly like what you've done!)
4X Customer Marketing Director and Founder of Repetitos
2 个月A younger Chris may have had a different response:) It’s so important to try to walk in someone’s shoes and think about what motivated this. In the long run, your response will have a much greater impact than just not renewing and disappearing.
Director of Events, NICE
2 个月I agree that most lies aren’t meant to be malicious. But it doesn’t mean they don’t sting. Having a conversation about it can be difficult for both sides. Getting caught, confronting the reason, etc. But for the sake of the relationship, is necessary to move forward. Thanks for bringing up the topic and for taking the high road. It’s where I want to be in 2025 and always.