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Being tardy happens to everyone, but it's important to offer an apology when it does. But what makes an apology meaningful? At the Peak Work Performance Summit, psychologist Ron Friedman spoke with Peter Bregman, author of *Four Seconds: All the Time You Need to Stop Counter-Productive Habits and Get the Results You Want*. Bregman shared that people often apologize for the wrong things when they're late.
When we're late, the usual response is to apologize and then offer an excuse, such as 'Sorry I'm late, this meeting ran long,' or 'Sorry for being late, I didn't mean to.' But the person waiting for you is not focused on your intentions. They're experiencing the impact of the delay.
Rather than offering a reason for your lateness, Bregman recommends that you focus your apology on the consequences of your actions. For instance, you could say, 'Sorry for keeping you waiting,' 'Sorry for taking up your valuable time,' or even 'Thank you for being flexible.' Acknowledging the time you’ve taken from others will make your apology feel more genuine.
When you demonstrate that you're aware of how your lateness has affected others, it shows respect for their time. This will make your apology not only more sincere but also more effective.
The Peak Work Performance Summit, featured on Business Insider
Image courtesy of Vincent Albanese.
