Do You Say "I'm Sorry" Too Much?

by Kori Rodley Irons | More from this Blogger

02 Jan 2008 09:27 PM

It is good to apologize, right? Well, if it is warranted then it is good to apologize, however, haven't you ever known someone who apologized all the time until it just about drove your crazy? It wasn't about truly apologizing for something that he or she had control over, but it was obviously some other psychological complex and it was just too much! You might want to check your own apology record and see if you are apologizing too much, without even thinking about it, or if you are apologizing appropriately.

I have known colleagues and coworkers who said "I'm sorry" like the rest of us say "Good morning." It didn't matter what happened or whether they were directly involved or not, they said "I'm sorry." Now, I don't claim to be a psychologist or to know exactly what makes people apologize rampantly like that-is it low self-esteem? An inferiority complex? The need to control the situation or bring attention on themselves? Or were they just raised up to play that role and think that they should apologize all the time? Regardless, it just does not help our businesses or endear customers and clients to us. In fact, I think it does just the opposite!

We do need to learn how to take the blame and apologize for mistakes we've made or things that go awry that are within our realm of control. We do not need to apologize for the weather, the fact that postage has gone up, or any other daily happenings that we really have no control over. If you are apologizing all the time in your business, you are not sending a strong message of competence, capability and self-esteem. Our clients and customers need to know that we can be trusted to use good judgment and be in control-constant apologizing does not send that message.

Also: How Can You Be More Convincing?

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