Modar HIJAZI

Lindsay Tigar

• Everybody makes mistakes, and it’s important to apologize when you’ve messed up.
• But you should be intentional when apologizing in an office setting; if you’re constantly apologizing, people may lose respect for your work.
• Recognizing when you need more resources or asking for clarification don’t require the qualification of an apology.

In professional settings, we all lose our confidence sometimes. This is especially true when we feel as if we’ve missed the mark, or perhaps, our manager is out in left field and we aren’t sure on how to reel them back in. In an effort to soften the impact or to give an excuse on why you’re imperfect, many will utter two little words that do more harm than good: “I’m sorry.” Here’s the deal: When you have something to apologize for, you should. But if you’re throwing around those words without giving a second thought, you diminish the respect of others in your performance and in your ability to do your job.

Regardless of where you stand on the corporate ladder, you must be your own biggest cheerleader and support system, and if you’re always bowing your head down in defeat — you won’t receive the promotions and praise you’ve earned.

Here, executives on better responses than “I’m sorry.” :