Someone I know was done a customer disservice by a major company. . .15 years ago. To this day, without any further interaction with said company, they vilify it. They grasp and hold on to that unfortunate incident and in doing so, make it part of their DNA. Never mind that the people responsible probably no longer work for the company (or are dead!). Never mind that the company has effectively changed ownership and leadership. This individual is going to hold on to the grudge with a vise-like grip to effectively squeeze every drop of martyrdom out of it until the day they die!
For what? I don't know. The only ones who are being harmed at this point are the holders of the grudge.
So it is with individuals within companies. I've known individuals who've been wronged in the past. . .but years (and I mean YEARS) later, it is still a battlefield. . .but at this point it's only a battle of one. My belief is that when someone is done a disservice - apologies should be offered and accepted - and then for every one's sanity - move on!
People, however, seem to be reluctant to move on. For some reason, they like to grip tightly at the fact that they were done wrong. Within reason - within reasonable time - part of that is a healing process. When it becomes prolonged - it becomes injurious to the holder and a major detractor to the work at hand.
People, companies and teams need to be able to move forward. . .when grudges are held well beyond the past-due date; forward motion stops. With feet planted firmly in the tar pit of "I'm never going forget how I was wronged," these individuals deny themselves the privilege and associated benefits of walking into the future.
Dwelling on past wrongs doesn't rectify the situation; it does however harm the individual who's gripping on a grudge. For the sake of the individual, and the team, get over it and move on.
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