Speaking About You

The words, “I’m sorry‿ can get us out of a lot of trouble when we have done something wrong or hurt someone we care about, but the key to a good apology is really meaning it and being able to convincing the other person that you are truly remorseful. Apologizing just for the sake of keeping the peace is not an effective way to apologize. In doing so the recipient of the apology will most likely see through your act and realize that your apology is insincere. A truely sincere and well-timed apology, however, will help to mend the relationship that was hurt by your words or actions.

The most important way to prove that you are truly sorry for hurting someone is to ensure that the hurtful action is never repeated again. Apologizing repeatedly for a mistake while continuing to make the same mistake over again shows that your apology is not sincere. On the other hand, if you really mean that you are sorry for an action, you will take careful steps not to repeat this action again. Apologizing for your actions is one thing but being cautious not to repeat your actions really proves that you are indeed truely sorry.

Being specific about the reason for your apology also really proves that you are sorry. Many people are quick to offer an apology when they realize someone is upset with them but often they do not take the time to figure out why the other person is upset. Apologizing without stating the reason for the apology shows that you do not understand the problem and that you are not sincere in your apology. This is not an effective way to make an apology. However, if you offer a specific reason for your apology you are proving that you understand what you did to hurt the other person’s feelings and that you do not want to repeat that action.

Another way to prove that your apology is real is to be sure to offer the apology in person. Having a third party speak to the person you have offended or apologizing via email or voice mail conveys a lack of caring. This kind of apology shows that you are not truly sorry for your actions. Meeting with the person face to face to have a sincere conversation and offer your apology is one way to really prove that you are sorry. It shows that you care enough about the other person to meet with them directly to try to make amends for your contributions to the disagreement.

If though it is impossible to meet with that person face to face, then a phone conversation is at least a small way to show the other person that you are recognizing the fact that you have hurt them. With the invention of the phone and the fact that not everyone that we deal with lives within our immediate neigbourhood, there maybe times when the phone is our only way to comunicate with that person.

In apologizing, if you want to prove that you really mean it, be careful not to place blame on the person you are apologizing to. Your apology is about telling the other person why you believe that you did something wrong. While they may have contributed to the situation, now is not the time to point out their faults. Instead take full responsibility for what you have done wrong. Accepting full responsibility for your actions and apologizing for them without placing blame on the other person will prove that your apology is sincere.

A genuine apology will also include telling the other person why your actions were wrong and how you intend to avoid hurting them in the future. Doing this proves to them not only that you understand you were wrong but that you understand why you were wrong. It also lets them know that you have already formulated a plan of action to ensure that this situation does not arise in the future.

The timing of your apology can also help to prove that you really are sorry. Waiting too long to apologize may show that you do not really care and that you are simply apologizing as an afterthought. An apology that is made too soon may risk being ignored because the recipient of the apology is still too upset to listen to what you are saying. It is important to give the other person a chance to vent their anger and calm down before rushing to apologize. After a reasonable amount of time, approach them and let them know that you understand their anger and believe that it is justified and that you wanted to give them a chance to calm down before apologizing.

Sometimes it is not enough to simply apologize for your words or actions. It is very often necessary not only to apologize, but to also prove that your apology is sincere. A truly sincere apology proves that you are sorry by addressing the issue and acknowledging what you have done wrong and also validating the other person’s right to be angry at you and addressing how you will avoid similar actions in the future.

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