Despite our best intentions, there are times when we hurt or upset people. Humans are prone to mistakes and are walking offenders. On many occasions, when we do not think that we have made a mistake, but others will often find flaws in our ways.
Here the question arises whether or not to apologize if someone feels offended by our behavior. The answer to this is, it is always good to apologize if someone feels hurt or offended by our behavior.
The impact of our actions is often not what we intended. But impact matters more than the intention. Also, it is not always possible to avoid co-workers, family, and friends. So, it is better to learn how to apologize and deal with uncomfortable situations. Properly apologize is a crucial skill to build long-lasting relationships in the workplace.
How to Apologize Effectively
A sincere apology has two key elements:
- It shows the regret of the person over their actions or words.
- It acknowledges the actions, whether intentional or not, to the person you are apologizing.
All we need to learn is how to apologize genuinely, as you need to rebuild trust in a relationship when you have done something wrong. Here are some steps to learn how to apologize effectively.
Express Remorse of the Actions
You can start your apology by saying the two magical words, “I’m sorry” or “I apologize.” These words express remorse for your action. Your words need to be authentic and sincere. Be honest about the reason you want to apologize. Also, timeliness is crucial. Apologize as early as you realize that you have hurt someone.
Admit Responsibility
Accept responsibility for your behavior or actions, and admit what you did. You need to sympathize with the person you have hurt and demonstrate that you realize how you made them feel. Don’t make presumptions. Just put yourself in the shoes of that person and imagine how they felt.
Offer to Make Amends
Now that you have expressed remorse and have empathized with the person you have hurt, it is time to make amends. Take actions to correct the situation.
A lot of people consider accepting the mistake and empathizing as a complete apology. But it still misses two vital aspects of apology:
- If there is anything that you can do to make the person you hurt, feel better.
- Agree to do something for them. Try to do something to make up for your mistake.
Promise That It Will Not Happen Again
An apology is vague if you commit the same mistake in the future. That is why agreeing to change is vital when you really want to apologize for your mistakes. It helps to rebuild trust and improve the relationship. Make sure to follow your promise.
Final words
At first, it is going to be hard if you are not used to this way of apologizing. You can join the webinar conducted by Compliance Prime to know more about How to Apologize Effectively in the Workplace.
