When you’re sorry, just say the words
I said this to five different people on Friday. “I am sorry”. An overly curt email. Late for a meeting. Over-stepping bounds, a little disrespectful of the staffing process. Not bringing an extra copy of a document for signing.
Basically, a day of “humble pie”
My take. When you are doing good work, important work, moving fast, shaking things up, things will get broken. Did I do any of those things to do harm? No. Was any harm done long term? No. Do I regret some of my actions. Yes, slightly. Am I going to brood on them, no.
I made 3 of the apologies directly and publicly. I will make my rounds on Monday and apologize to 2 more people directly. Maybe I am superficial, but I find apologizing the fastest, most effective way to move on. I make mistakes. I am sorry. Let’s trust each other and keep doing good work.
Apologizing is the fastest, most effective way to move on
Advice. When you make mistakes (Seth Godin reminds us that we will), just apologize. Simple mistake = simple fix. As I told a consultant today. “Take your work seriously, don’t take yourself seriously.”
Just say the words. . . Sorry.
Maybe this is zen reflection because I am blogging from a hammock in a state park. Can hear the creek babbling, see my wife reading. Blogging from a hammock. I need more afternoons like this. Life is good.
I am not sorry about that.
