An apology is crucial for maintaining trust and showing accountability, especially in business. However, over-apologizing can have unintended consequences, potentially undermining your credibility. Brian and Mary Jo shed light on the balance between taking responsibility and knowing when to move forward in this excerpt from Entrepreneurial Trinity 

Don’t Over Apologize
“I’m a firm believer in apologizing for my errors, and I make plenty of mistakes, so I get a lot of practice. I made so many that I even made mistakes while apologizing for mistakes. Early on, I made a mistake on a report to a client. I don’t remember what that mistake was; I just remember the lesson I learned.

This was early on in the business and our relationship with this client. I provided the report and spoke to the client about it. During that call, they realized I had made a mistake. I immediately apologized and stated that I would correct the error and send the revised report. I then apologized again.

When I sent the revised report, I apologized a third time and then sent a follow-up email a few days later apologizing once more. AJ, my main point of contact for the client and a great guy, called me and said, ‘Stop apologizing. You correctly apologized when it was first pointed out and corrected the error. By continuing to apologize, you just keep reminding us about it, and you look weak.’ Ouch, that hurt, but he was right; it did make me look weak.

Clearly, he wasn’t saying not to apologize for our errors but rather to apologize once or even twice and then move on.”

A well-timed apology demonstrates professionalism and accountability. Over-apologizing, however, can draw unnecessary attention to mistakes and diminish your authority. The lesson here is clear: acknowledge the error, correct it, and move forward with confidence. Striking this balance ensures you maintain trust without compromising your professional image.

For more practical insights on leadership and growth, check out Entrepreneurial Trinity.