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Apologizing..... sign of weakness?

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by netforce 2 views

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Just want to see what kind of feedback I'd get to this. I've heard that apologizing via phone, email is sign of weakness.

Scenarios:
Let say your a little late replying to a client

Technical product not working for client.

Perhaps it depends on the severity of the issue and how valuable the client or customer is to you.

Your take?

14 replies

by charliespencer

It shows concern. I also disagree with those who feel it explicitly assumes liability on the part of the apologizer.

by gsg

It takes an honest person, and someone who's not afraid to be able to admit when you are wrong and offer to make the situation right. Of course, I'm assuming that the apology is a sincere one.

by the scummy one

classified or determined if it was not sincere (email/phone)?

I was kind of forced not long ago to send an apology to a group of people because they took offense when I complained about the lack of support here.
I said something like 'what a POS, dysfunctional, crappy sh1thole of a support structure'
and the wrong person was hanging around :( Scummy almost got canned for it, however I totally disagreed with the 'apology' as the statement is 100% true... But it looked sincere enough (after several drafts).

by notsochiguy

I humbly and sincerely apologize for my outburst regarding the total lack of regard shown to our customers through our failed support structure.

Unfortunately, I let the incomprehensibly narrow-minded views of our management team jade my otherwise jovial personality, and in a moment of frustration that would be understandable to anyone with an IQ above room temperature, I let the fact that I care show through.

It is my hope that you accept this apology, and continue to waste your time and efforts with our talentless support staff.

Regards,

Scummy

Was that close??? :)

by $$$$$$$$$$

I'm not afraid to admit it.

"... not afraid to be able to admit when you are wrong and offer to make the situation right."

Don't like the generic "they"? I don't blame you, but that just came out a bit funny. Don't worry, I'm not offering to right your writing in any other situation.

by notsochiguy

...in that a sincere apology, when warranted, is the bigger move.

HOWEVER...

I am so sick of people saying "I'm sorry" for things that aren't even close to being infractions. Devalues what should be a sincere sentiment.

For instance, if two people both turn the same corner, and bump into each other in the hallway, there is no reason to say "I'm sorry". "My bad", "oops", "you okay" are all legit, but not "I'm sorry". Yet, I hear it all the time.

Maybe I'm just growing tired and cranky over the entire superlative society we've become...but I think "I'm sorry" should be reserved for instance where your heart truly sinks over what has transpired.

I now step off of my soapbox! :)

by netforce

Don't live in Japan, they'll kill you with their politeness.

A culture based on politeness.

by notsochiguy

...just overuse of the term that irks me. If someone says "I'm Sorry" when they almost run into you in a hallway (when you both had equal parts in it, no less), what meaning does it hold when they say "I'm Sorry" for causing someone actual pain??

I blame ESPN and MTV/VH1 for this...two most superlative driven entities on earth. Everything is a top ten this, greatest that, best ever this, coolest that. BLAH!!

I mean, if you go to a car salesman, and he says you're his most likable customer in ages, and he's gonna cut you a deal, do you believe him??? No, because the words have no meaning (probably...I suppose there is the 1% chance he's actually being honest).

That is what is happening to the term "I'm sorry"...loses meaning every time someone uses it for a petty reason.

Just when I thought I was off my soap box, you pulled me back on! :)

P.S. for the record, this is just my opinion on this...not submitting it as empirically proved fact...or trying to gain converts to my way of thinking on this.

by the scummy one

but the later drafts ended up stating something like 'I realize this was unprofessional behavior' and 'as a professional I should not have subjected anyone to...'

But I never actually apologized for my remarks validity, just the unprofessionalism of my actions.

by $$$$$$$$$$

That is, whether an act is interpreted as a "sign" of anything is, like any interpretation, dependent not only on content and context but on the interpreter. In deciding whether to apologize, that all factors into the latter clause of:

"Perhaps it depends on the severity of the issue and [u]how valuable the client or customer is to you[/u]."

by michael jay

If I screw something up, get it wrong or make something work less well than it should the apology must always come in person. What you need to do is come to them face to face and say "I messed that up and am here to fix it" then fix it.

That is my take.

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