Second Chances

This past Friday Tiger Woods made his first public appearance since the details of his accident and extra-marital affairs became known last December. The carefully staged event has been the subject of endless media scrutiny since it took place. You can vote on whether he will be a better golfer, cheat again, do Oprah, or have a Kobe comeback (a reference to basketball star Kobe Bryant’s own fall from grace a few years ago). Editorials have parsed his statement, even tracking how many times he mentioned key words or phrases. This obsession with the scandal is likely to continue until he finally returns to the golf course.

Over the years, many of our cultural, political, and sports icons have experienced a similar fate. Caught in compromising situations, confronted with cheating, or arrested for aberrant behavior these persons have sometimes faded from the public eye, unable to resurrect their careers or reputations. Others have managed to overcome the consequences of their poor choices and restore their image, recipients of a forgiving public. What will Tiger experience when he makes his return? Will his indiscretions cost him more than the loss of millions in sponsorship endorsements? Are the legions of golf fans who appreciate his talents on the course ready to give him a second chance?

No one can offer a definitive answer to these questions. I pose them because of the similar challenge facing any leader whose actions or inactions disappoint their followers. We have probably all been there at some point in our lives. Perhaps a planned product launch missed badly and customers were left feeling betrayed. Maybe pay raises or bonuses weren’t delivered as promised. A key promotion may have been overlooked. Even insensitive language can cause irreparable harm to a leader’s credibility.

Second chances in the lives of public figures are often connected to their level of sincerity, their believability. When fans sense their hero is remorseful they will generally forgive them. Of course it doesn’t hurt if the fallen sports idol helps his team win a championship or if the fallen political leader goes on to lead her party or cause to victory. When it comes to second chances, our culture often rewards winning even more than strong moral character.

For the average organizational leader, second chances may not be that easy. In the daily grind of workplace environments any selfish or insensitive acts by leaders can lead to declines in productivity and morale. These changes affect more than the relationship between leader and follower. Customers and vendors will also be affected. The organization’s ability to recruit and retain key employees may be compromised. The element of trust that acts as glue to hold teams together during stressful times could be lost. Under these circumstances, knowing how to express genuine remorse and seek forgiveness is a skill leaders would do well to perfect.

Forgiving others for their transgressions requires a graceful spirit and a willingness to first forgive ourselves. When a mistake is made we can’t undo it. The scars, memories, and tears are often permanent reminders of how hard it is to get a second chance. I have experienced this in both my personal and professional lives, as I’m sure my readers have as well. In the end, second chances may be necessary to restore a relationship or a brand. But the real lesson isn’t about forgiveness for past indiscretions, it’s about doing things well the first time so second chances won’t necessary.