22.05.2023

THE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT WAY TO APOLOGIZE AT THE WORKPLACE

To be able to apologize effectively in the workplace, you need to know how to word the apology and how to choose the right moment. With a positive company culture, employees are not afraid to take responsibility for their mistakes. Refusing to say "I'm sorry" can undermine your relationships with your colleagues and be perceived as a show of disrespect. At the same time, taking responsibility can reset your relationship with your colleague and get it back on track.

However, apologizing can seem like a daunting task if you don't know when is the best time to do it. Moreover, an apology at the wrong time or with a thoughtless statement can be worse than no apology at all. To find the right tone, employees and employers must also find the right circumstances.

Is an apology necessary? How to decide

Before resorting to a hasty apology, first consider whether one is necessary at all. Over apologizing can be a big waste of time, highlighting minor mistakes and diminishing the impact of the act itself. Instead of giving a long or detailed apology, try a short "sorry about that" for some minor mistake. More extensive apologies become necessary when the mistake causes harm to the business, results in a greater workload for colleagues, or is part of a long-term pattern of behavior.

However, even accidents can lead to unexpected results. With this in mind, emotional intelligence and body language can help determine, for example, whether a colleague's distancing reveals a need to pay more attention to a given mistake. Remember that HR advisors and your colleagues can offer helpful perspectives on whether an apology might be helpful in a particular situation. A sincere apology reflects consideration and responsibility, setting a positive tone for a relationship.

How to apologize professionally

After deciding to apologize, consider the reasons for the incident, the impact on others, and ways to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

Choose the right environment for an apology. To make both parties feel comfortable, choose a place where everyone can freely share their feelings, such as a conference room. During the apology, try not to give in to the impulse to fumble the apology in order to get out of the awkward situation as quickly as possible.

Instead of rushing, apologize clearly and carefully, allowing time for the other person to respond. When it comes to big mistakes, an apology can take a few minutes to cover everything – acknowledgment of the problem, proactive suggestions for resolution and prevention, and a chance for the affected party to accept the apology and offer forgiveness.

The most important thing is to remember to listen more than you speak when apologizing. Apologies are an open and honest conversation between two people, not a list of things to check off. No one looks forward to the moment when they have to apologize, but apologies can help restore and deepen trust between people.