How to Apologize to Someone With Grace and Professionalism

Jump to section Invest in yourself today When you know you did something wrong, it can feel nerve-wracking to take the next step: A sincere apology.Apologies don’t come easy. Especially good ones. However, they’re crucial elements to build relationships and improve communication. Knowing how to apologize professionally and respectfully is a difficult skill to hone.Let’s explore how to apologize to someone and why good apologies matter both at work and in your personal life.Why most apologies don’t workIf you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard and made an apology that didn’t feel that great.So why don’t these apologies work?Let’s break down an example of a bad apology to see the problem:“I’m sorry that you feel upset by what happened. I didn’t mean to make you feel belittled, but I was trying to impress the client, and that’s why I said what I said. I apologize.”The first thing the apologizer says is, “I’m sorry that you feel upset by what happened.” This doesn’t mean the apolog...