15 December 2009
Is It Time to Say “I’m Sorry”?
Posted by Moss under: Business .
People screw up! Your partner screws up! You Screw up! It’s human nature to screw up and create problems for others, especially your partners. Your good intentions, integrity, values, and loyalty wont save you form screwing up. You will continue to screw up! You will have to learn to say, “I’m sorry!”
How do you say, “I’m sorry?”
- “I think I created a problem this morning.
- I’m sorry if I did. Can we talk about it so we can figure out how I might now deal with it?”
- “I have not been forthright about something. I’m sorry.”
- “I didn’t keep an agreement
- I’m sorry!”
Some things you might be sorry about:
- Not keeping an agreement
- Not talking straight
- Not listening
- Taking something personally and playing “get back”
- Lose control and let anger control your tongue
- Talk behind your partner’s back
- Act competitively and act jealous
Doing any of the above will not make you a bad partner.
What will make you a bad partner is:
- Not paying attention to your behavior and what you say.
- Not owning up to what happened
- Not apologizing
- Lacking perspective and empathy
- Going into your private “silo” and stopping the practice of mutual safety and respect
Bottom Line
- You will screw up
- Pay attention
- Tell the truth and talk straight
- Say “I’m Sorry”
- Recommit to the partnership relationship and get back on track
