Best Advice: Apologies

We return again to the Best Advice series. There comes a time when we all make mistakes. We harm other people or do things that are not suitably mindful of others. That’s when it is time to apologize. However, an apology needs to be more than a half-hearted, “I’m sorry” with no plan of action to restore the person or make them whole. At the same time, it is also important not to get into a habit for apologizing too much or for things that aren’t your fault. Apologies should be rare and potent.

What Deserves An Apology?

Choosing when to apologize is very important. There are a few questions to ask:

• Is it genuinely your fault? (did you actions directly lead to harm?)
• Has the person been materially deprived of something?
• Has emotional or psychological come as a result?

If the answer to any of these is yes then an apology is warranted. A part of being self-aware is knowing when your actions have affected others. This can often be a good thing but when things go awry (and they will) it is equally important to recognize that and deliver the correct apology. The key is not to over-apologize. Not only does…