Apologies are not a sign of weakness at the workplace. A good apology is one of the most important tools in workplace communication. An apology is an indication that an error has occurred and we need to fix it. The person who owns up the error is showing responsibility of fixing the same. Everyone makes mistakes. If we keep on saying “Am sorry” for every little thing, apology loses its value. If the mistake is grave, it's important to consider the best way to apologize for the mishap, whether it's to your boss, employees or co-workers.
Own up
The
first step toward apologizing is your mindset. You have to own your mistakes.
Do not try to hide it or blame anyone else. Say “this is what has happened. I'm
responsible for it. This is what I'm going to do to fix it and this is what I
learned. Will ensure that it will not be repeated in future”. This sets an
example for everyone not to be afraid of owning up something which they might
have messed up. It is humane to err at some point of time. Workplace
apologies should take place after highlighting the mistakes when the whole team
or a group of co-workers witnesses a mess-up. While apologies are awkward, they
are also building into the company's culture. It speaks about the company and
the value system. There should be some universal rules to apologies which everyone
should follow at work. Then, this is an indication of the environment which is
healthy and conducive for people to do their best. It builds respect and
empathy for the company in the team’s eyes when the company encourages an
apologizing culture at workplace.
Apologize
at the earliest
After
acknowledging the mistake render the apology to the concerned person at the
earliest. The sooner the apology is done, the better will be to strengthen the
relationship. Do not give time for negative vibes to be circulated within yourself
and in the company also, when it is a big mistake, calm yourself down first and
then make note of the causes which led to the mistake. Appropriately take
responsibility and sit with the team involved, arrive at next step and
rectification process. Then take the step of apologizing. It is not easy
however your co-workers and managers will respect you in the long run though it
might be hard to digest too initially depending on the level of damage done. A
good apology makes an impact as a person with good character. Let the entire
focus be on how to remedy the situation at the earliest rather than providing
explanations. Do not try to justify what has happened.
Do
not lose the Learning
When
it comes to innovation, freedom to fail is provided so that people do not
operate from the sphere of fear. Nowadays many company’s encourage the freedom
to experiment before the launch of a product or also the type of measures taken
to increase the sale. The approaches when it comes to marketing may need
experimentation. During this process mistakes happen due to various reasons. At
such times, it is important to delve into details and analyse the complete
situation. Then the actual reasons for the mistakes to happen start surfacing.
Learn from every mistake however small it might be. The energy and time for the
process is lost for now however do not lose the lesson. It is invaluable. This is where the shift can
happen towards a positive outcome. The same mistake should not happen more than
once. Communicate the lesson learnt to everyone in the team and to your deeper
self. By focusing on the lessons the message sent to everyone in the team and
in the company is that you are intelligent and a self-aware employee who can
handle responsibility and problems with grace. Always remember "A good apology
can open, not close, doors."
By
following these steps, it will facilitate the best solution possible after a
big mistake in the workplace. Every situation is different, however apologies
are always appreciated when it is sincere and when the intention is good.
Comment below with your thoughts.
Watch this space for more insights on healthy mindset for
self-leadership. Want to bring about the culture of progress,
performance and productivity mindfully for maximizing your profits in a playful
approach at your workplace or in your venture, attend our Turning Point– Turn in and Tune in workshop.
Mail us at culture@hasovan.com for more details. Our team would be happy to get in
touch. Catch the work-place philosophy of various companies in the book “Erupt
with Joy” by Savitha Hosamane.
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