A heartfelt apology includes REMORSE. Remorse comes from true empathy for the pain the other person is feeling because of your actions. Remorse is different from feeling regret. Regret has to do with wishing you hadn’t taken a particular action or said something. You may regret an action because it hurt someone else, but you […]
Don’t ruin an apology with an excuse. Read More »
Some words to avoid: “I’m sorry if you feel that way.” This invalidates the listener’s feelings. It certainly is not an apology. Rather say, “I apologize for doing [whatever it is you did], I can see it upset you. I did not intend to do that. Help me understand what went wrong here.”
Words to Avoid: “I’m sorry if you feel that way” Read More »
Apologies often do not work. The person who was offended may have very minimal confidence in the apology. Most people are not as needy of an apology as they are to feel understood and respected. In fact, it is likely that the only way apologies help – the only time they do work – is
Apologies are less important than respect Read More »
Apologies usually come when you are upset. Not the easiest time to actually hear someone out. But for the sake of your relationship, at least give the other person a chance to apologize and explain.
Accepting an Apology Read More »
A good apology means laying yourself bare. It means putting yourself in the other person’s position, giving them what they want and need. In short, it’s not about you.
How To Say You’re Sorry Read More »
