A Proper Apology

There is saying, be slow to criticize and fast to apologize.  A proper apology takes little time, and can do an lot to quell bad feelings. 

There are a few steps to doing this right. 

• Take ownership of the problem.  
• Acknowledge the impact on the other person. 
• Promise to do better. 
• If appropriate, describe steps taken to prevent the action from happening again. 

Here is an example:

• I sincerely apologize for the idiot that is president of the United States.  
• I understand that his stupidity, insecurities, and racism have set world progress back a century.  He never should have happened.  
• I promise to continue to work to change the political compromise that allowed the loser of the popular vote to be elected, we should have fixed that decades ago. 
• I assure you I will vote in the next election, and encourage my like minded friends to vote. 
• As soon as he is out of office, we will work to undo the mess that he has caused.  
• I am so sorry, we should have done better.  

So there are the elements, take ownership, offer a sincere apology, acknowledge the harm, promise to do better, offer steps to be taken. 

If I had said, sorry, but I didn't vote for the idiot (and I didn't) the apology has much less impact, it is in effect, saying sorry but it is not my problem. 

What else do I need to apologize for today?