One of the most difficult things that any of us can experience in life is having to apologize. However - though it is difficult - it is often necessary. There are many times that one must apologize and it is not even their place. We often apologize to resolve previous issues so that we may carry on with our personal and professional relationships. In this article, we will be reviewing some ways in which you can give a proper apology, backed by respect and a high level of sincerity.
When apologizing, the first thing that you should do is determine the ultimate reason for the apology. You simply must understand exactly what you are in the position to apologize for. You may have done something simple that you did not mean to do, and the person took what you said or did to heart. You may have seriously insulted someone by something that you said and did. Whatever the case, you must understand the nature of the offense and why you did it in order to create a meaningful apology.
You must also understand to choose your apology carefully. Many people have been known to apologize, yet make matters worse. You must take full responsibility for your actions. Do not try to apologize and then put a "but" in the explanation. It is better to just let things be and not try to rationalize the issue even more. If you try to explain your actions too much, or throw a "but" in your explanation and do not accept full responsibility for what you have said or done, chances are high that the person will not be willing to accept your apology as you would like them to.
You must consider the person that you are going to be apologizing to and try to establish a time frame for the apology. Each person requires a different amount of time in order to calm down enough that they are willing to listen to you and consider an apology. If you jump the gun too fast with some people, you may not get a consideration as far as an apology is concerned. If you wait too long with others, you may be encountering a wall of hurt emotions and resentment. You really must time the apology appropriately.
When considering an apology, you must consider the type of relationship that you have with the person. If you have a professional relationship with the person, you must issue a professional apology. If you have a personal relationship with someone, then you will want to issue a personal apology. It all depends on whether you work with the person, are friends with the person, or are related with the person. In a professional apology, it is more likely that you will want to explain your actions. In a personal apology, a simple apologize with little explanation is usually more appropriate.
When you apologize to someone, it is vital that you admit that you regret that your actions and that you understand that you caused them some sort if hurt feelings and inconvenience. Not only should you express regret for your actions, but admit that you were wrong as well. It is also very important that you try to issue the apology directly. It allows the person to see that you are sincere and they are more than likely going to accept your apology. If you are attempting to make a professional apology, you may elect to do so over coffee or lunch. If you are making a personal-based apology, you may provide a heartfelt gift to the individual that you have wronged, such as a tear bottle to express your sadness, keepsake jewelry to show them how important they are to you, or another special type of gift, such as those that may be found at: http://tearcatcher.com/
