How To Apologize Sincerely - Effective Communication Tips

Everybody knows the meaning of apology but only some us of have the heart to sincerely apologize. We get hurt and hurt others but sometimes we can't easily convey our feelings of regret. Apologizing is a kind of audacity that might not be for everyone. So, why is it hard for many of us to apologize? I would recommend everyone ask this question before apologizing to someone. To know the true concept of apology will help you and give the courage to rebuild your broken relationships and will affect your communication. Well! it seems hard but actually it's not! Let me break it down why I think it's not hard to apologize; the reason it's hard for many people because they've never practiced and have very strong pride, which hold them back not to do so. However, apologizing is quite easy for some people because they prefer peace and joy; people who prefer apology over revenge are the most successful people and they would like to improve their communication. They are positive and think positively. 

In this article, we are going to explain the advantages and effective ways of apology which will help you improve your life and communication. The world will be much peaceful and beautiful if we all learn about an apology, and that's how we can change the world to a better place. When you apologize to the person whom you have hurt, you don't only gain peace but you also teach others and you help them. 

By doing so, you confirm that it hurts others.

We all need to learn how to apologize, but no one is perfect.  Everyone makes mistakes, and all of us may offend others with our intentional or unintentional behavior and actions.  It's not always easy to apologize, but apologizing for what we did wrong is the most effective way to restore trust and balance the relationship.

Why should we apologize?

There are many reasons to apologize.  Apologizing creates a conversation between you and the other person.  Acknowledging your mistake gives the other person a chance to reconnect with you and deal with his or her feelings.

When you apologize, you are essentially acknowledging that your behavior was unacceptable.  This will help you regain lost trust and strengthen your relationship with the other party.  It also gives both of you the opportunity to talk about what is acceptable or not.  In addition, when you admit that you made a mistake, you restore the dignity of the person you hurt. This helps the person to quickly forget their frustration and not blame themselves.

A sincere apology shows that you take responsibility for your actions. This can boost your self-confidence and credibility.  Also, admitting a mistake makes you feel comfortable, and the best way is to see the right person in the other person's eyes again.

What happens if you don't apologize after you've made a mistake?

First, you damage your relationship with your co-worker, customer, or friend.  This will damage your reputation, limit your job opportunities, and reduce your productivity, and others may lose their willingness to work with you.

When you don't apologize, you have a negative impact on your team.  No one likes to work with a boss who does not admit his mistakes and does not apologize for them.  The hostility, tension, and resentment you create can create a toxic atmosphere in your work environment.

Why is it hard to apologize?

Although not apologizing has many negative consequences, why do so many people still shy away from it?  The most important reason is that an apology takes courage.  When you admit your mistake, you put yourself in a vulnerable position and you may be exposed to protest or blame at any moment.  It is difficult for some people to have such courage.

In addition, you may be so ashamed of your work that you may not be able to meet the other person, or you may be following John Wayne's dialogue that said, "Never apologize and never explain."

If you want to be so arrogant, it's up to you, but you have to accept that you won't be seen as an intelligent and inspiring leader.

1: Express regret

Every apology should begin with a few basic words: "I'm sorry" These short sentences are very important because they show your remorse. For example, you could say, "I'm sorry I hit you yesterday. "I feel ashamed of my behavior."

Your words must be honest and real.  Be honest with yourself and your opponent. If you have another reason to apologize and use it as a tool to achieve another goal, it's best not to apologize at all. Time is of the essence here.  As soon as you notice that you have hurt someone, you should apologize immediately.

Take responsibility for your actions and behavior

The next step is to take responsibility for your actions and behavior and admit the mistake you made.

Here you need to empathize with the person who is hurting you and show that you understand their feelings.  Put yourself in his shoes and imagine how he felt.

For example: "I know you were upset yesterday when I shouted at you.  I'm sure it embarrassed you, especially since all the members of the team were there.  "I was wrong to treat you like that."

3: Compensate

When you want to make amends, you need to take steps to improve the situation.

Here are two examples: "If I can do something I can do to make up for my mistake, please tell me." I was wrong to doubt your ability to chair the meeting.  "I want you to lead tomorrow's meeting to show your skills."

Think carefully about these steps.  Empty poses and false promises make things worse.  Sometimes it may be because you feel guilty about paying more than you need to pay the ransom, so it's best to make suggestions that are appropriate.

4: Promise it won't happen again

The last step is to promise not to repeat this behavior again.  This step is very important because you are reassuring the person that you will change your behavior.  This helps rebuild trust and repair the relationship.

You can say, "From now on, I will manage my stress better so that I don't shout at you and other team members anymore, and please remind me if this happens again."

If you promise to change your behavior, be sure to do so, otherwise, your credibility will be compromised and others will lose confidence in you. If you're worried about not saying the right words when apologizing, write down what you want to say and try to practice it through a play with a friend.  However, do not exercise too much as your apology may seem artificial.

More strategies for effective apology In addition to the above four steps, consider these two when apologizing.

5: Don't make excuses

During an apology, many people want to give reasons for their behavior and actions.  Sometimes this can be helpful, but sometimes too much explanation takes the form of an excuse, and this can reduce the impact of an apology.  Don't try to put the blame on someone else to reduce your responsibility.

Here is an example of an excuse to apologize: "I'm sorry I hit you on the head when you came to my office yesterday.  "I had a lot of work to do and my boss wanted me to finish the project an hour earlier than scheduled."  In this case, you justify your bad behavior under the pretext of being stressed, and you show that it was the other party's fault that it bothered you on a busy day.  This will make you look weak.

The better approach is to say, "I'm sorry I yelled at you yesterday. "This sentence is concise and useful and does not give any excuse for your behavior.

Be sure to be fair to yourself when you apologize and take responsibility as much as you need to.  No need to exaggerate.

Don't expect to be forgiven right away

Remember that the other party may not be ready to forgive you immediately.  Give him/her time to prepare spiritually.

For example, after you apologize, you can say, "I know you're not ready to forgive me yet, and I understand."  I just wanted to say I apologize a lot.  "You don't have to forgive me right now, you have enough time to realize I've changed completely."

Be aware of the legal consequences of your work

Beware that in some countries, formal apologies are seen as evidence of sin.

When someone apologizes to you, accept his or her apology fairly and with dignity.  If you respond violently, you may lose the respect of the people around you.