Taking responsibility means acknowledging mistakes you made that hurt the other person, and it’s one of the most important and neglected ingredients of most apologies, especially those in the media.
How to Apologize for a Mistake Professionally (With Examples)
Both conflict and mistakes are common occurrences in many workplaces. In order to go back to the same working relationship you once had with those you work with, it may be necessary to apologize for your mistakes or certain actions. Even though you’re in a professional setting, the act of offering an apology can help you show your acknowledgment of an issue and your attempts to correct it.
In this article, we explain why it’s important to apologize and what may happen if you don’t apologize at work, describe how you can apologize for your professional mistakes, provide some examples of email and in-person apologies and share some tips on effectively apologizing at work.
Owe Someone an Apology? Here’s How to Make Things Right
Here’s the good news: Learning to make a sincere apology isn’t as difficult as it might sound, and we’re here to guide you through the process. The 8 tips below will help you craft a natural, heartfelt apology to anyone in your life.
Regret is a key element of effective apologies, but you’ll probably find it difficult to express sincere regret when you don’t know what you regret doing.
Recalling your mistake may not feel all that pleasant, especially when you know you hurt someone. If you already feel guilty or disappointed in yourself, you might even avoid thinking about it entirely.
Your roommate seems irritated, but you aren’t sure why they’d be mad. After giving it some thought, you notice a large box in the doorway and suddenly remember you promised to help rearrange their bedroom furniture to make room for a new bookshelf. You immediately go to their room to apologize.
“I just realized I forgot about helping you move your furniture. I’m so sorry. Work has been a little overwhelming lately, and it completely slipped my mind. I know you wanted to get that done as soon as possible. Can I help you with it right now?”
Not sure exactly how you messed up? It happens, especially when you don’t know someone all that well. It’s OK to ask how you gave offense. Just know that some ways of asking are better than others.
When you rationalize your actions, you’re essentially passing the blame to another person. This sends the message that you don’t think you did anything wrong and gives your apology a ring of superficiality.
Say you’re apologizing to a co-worker for failing to complete a group assignment: “I’m sorry I didn’t finish my share of the project by the deadline, but I just can’t keep up with this workload.”
Know When to Apologize
Knowing when to apologize is as important as knowing how to apologize. Generally speaking, if you suspect that something you did—on purpose or by accident—caused someone else hard feelings, it’s a good idea to apologize and clear the air.
If what you did would have bothered you if it was done to you, an apology is in order. If you’re not sure, an apology no only offers you the chance to "own" mistakes you made, but re-establish what you think was OK. If you feel the other person is being unreasonable, a discussion may be in order. You can decide where you stand on the apology after that.
While a sincere apology can go a long way toward mending a relationship, people are often unwilling or unable to take this step. Admitting you were wrong can be difficult and humbling.
Researchers have found that people who believe that personality is changeable are more likely to apologize for harmful actions. Because they feel that change is possible, they feel that accepting the blame for their mistakes is an opportunity for learning and growth.
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Owe Someone an Apology? Here’s How to Make Things Right
Here’s the good news: Learning to make a sincere apology isn’t as difficult as it might sound, and we’re here to guide you through the process. The 8 tips below will help you craft a natural, heartfelt apology to anyone in your life.
Regret is a key element of effective apologies, but you’ll probably find it difficult to express sincere regret when you don’t know what you regret doing.
Recalling your mistake may not feel all that pleasant, especially when you know you hurt someone. If you already feel guilty or disappointed in yourself, you might even avoid thinking about it entirely.
Your roommate seems irritated, but you aren’t sure why they’d be mad. After giving it some thought, you notice a large box in the doorway and suddenly remember you promised to help rearrange their bedroom furniture to make room for a new bookshelf. You immediately go to their room to apologize.
“I just realized I forgot about helping you move your furniture. I’m so sorry. Work has been a little overwhelming lately, and it completely slipped my mind. I know you wanted to get that done as soon as possible. Can I help you with it right now?”
Not sure exactly how you messed up? It happens, especially when you don’t know someone all that well. It’s OK to ask how you gave offense. Just know that some ways of asking are better than others.
When you rationalize your actions, you’re essentially passing the blame to another person. This sends the message that you don’t think you did anything wrong and gives your apology a ring of superficiality.
Say you’re apologizing to a co-worker for failing to complete a group assignment: “I’m sorry I didn’t finish my share of the project by the deadline, but I just can’t keep up with this workload.”
References:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-apologize-for-a-mistake-professionally
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-apologize#:~:text=1%20Understand%20why%20you%E2%80%99re%20apologizing.%20To%20make%20a,in%20relationships%20after%20mistakes%20or%20thoughtless%20behavior.%20
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-apologize-more-sincerely-3144467
https://www.wikihow.com/Apologize
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-apologize