The public response to recent apologies from Manitoba political and religious figures has varied. Judging the value of an apology often depends as much on what comes after as the words themselves, experts say.
After a stressful year when COVID-19 disrupted our lives, nerves are understandably frayed. Whether dealing with pandemic-related difficulties or other concerns, there have probably been instances where you werenât your best self. You might have some relationshipsâwith relatives, friends, partners, and colleaguesâthat need healing and reconciliation. This is where figuring out how to apologize comes in handy. No matter who is in the wrong, sometimes nothing soothes animosity faster than saying âIâm sorry,â but screwing up your apology can make things worse.
In
A Good Apology: Four Steps to Make Things Right, Molly Howes, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Boston, delineates the elements of a solid apology. She explains that you should seek to understand the other personâs injury, offer sincere regret, make restitution, and show itâll never happen again. As you can imagine, itâs easy to falter (especially when hurt feelings or defensivene