Bamboo farmers know that energy is precious, and every drop of water matters. If you waste water on weeds, your bamboo suffers.
The same is true for leaders and teams.
When energy is spent on grudges, resentments, or old conflicts, less is left to nurture what truly matters: your goals, your people, and your growth.
That’s why I teach pre-forgiveness. Choosing to forgive yourself and others before the wrong even occurs. It’s not weakness; it’s leadership discipline. Here’s why it matters:
Forgiveness usually comes anyway.
People eventually have to move past conflicts on strong teams to keep momentum. Why not free the team sooner, before bitterness drains trust?
Pre-forgiveness saves time.
Resentment slows decision-making and collaboration. When leaders and teams forgive quickly, teams stay agile and focused on solutions instead of rehashing problems.
Pre-forgiveness saves energy.
Grudges burn energy that could be fueling innovation, creativity, and execution. Water the vision, not the conflict.
Pre-forgiveness is discipline, not weakness.
Great leaders model strength by letting go of offenses before they fester. This discipline sets the tone for the whole culture.
Pre-forgiveness keeps the team aligned with growth.
Like bamboo doesn’t resent storms, high-performing teams don’t dwell on setbacks. They regroup, realign, and keep growing together.
It comes down to this: Forgiveness saves time and energy to water your and your team’s bamboo.
PS: If your leadership team or organization could use fresh inspiration around resilience, collaboration, and growth, I’d love to speak with you. My Water the Bamboo keynote helps leaders and teams unleash their potential by focusing on what truly matters—watering the habits, relationships, and vision that create lasting success.