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The Power of an Apology
by Linda Larsen, CSP
© Copyright 2000

Jesse Jackson understood it. He did something he shouldn't have done. He got caught. He immediately stepped up to the plate and issued an apology - and we're talking a heartfelt apology, at that. And what happened then? Everyone seemed to get over it. It came - it went. Does anyone talk about it today? No. It seems to be a regrettable action that has been forgiven and forgotten.

Bill Clinton didn't quite get it. He did something he shouldn't have done. He got caught. He immediately denied, denied and further denied it. That is, until the evidence was soooo overwhelming that he finally had to admit it and apologize. Which he did. Sort of. And look at what happened next. It never DID fully go away.

Recently I gave a friend of mine something for safekeeping and she lost it. It was quite upsetting when I found out about it from another friend. I couldn't understand why she hadn't called me herself, immediately, to let me know. The longer I thought about it - the more upset I got. Finally when she called, I was feeling a little....shall we say....cranky. But then, a really great thing that happened. The very first words out of her mouth were, "Linda, I am so sorry. One - that I lost the item that you gave me, and two, that I didn't call you sooner. I am truly, truly sorry."

Wow. Every bit of anger I was holding in my being - just disappeared. Poof. Gone. I simply could not hold on to it when the source of my anger was so quick to take responsibility and apologize. And in that moment, I got it.

I am sure that she had very valid reasons why she didn't call me and why she lost what I gave her. She probably could have told me about how she got so busy, and had to go out of town, and her son got sick and the moon was full, blah, blah, blah. But she didn't. She just simply apologized - and meant it. Somehow she had decided that she could be right - about how it was understandable that she did what she did - or she could maintain our relationship. I respect her tremendously for the choice she made.

I'm inviting you to look around you and see if there's not some place, in either your personal or professional life, where you could offer an apology for something you did - whether it's an action you intended or not. It could be something that happened quite some time ago - or yesterday. It could even be something that you don't believe is totally your fault. Just take a deep breath and say the words, "I'm sorry"

Powerful words, indeed.

Word count: 475

Tag line: Linda Larsen, CSP, helps individuals think strategically, communicate effectively, and celebrate success. She is an international keynote speaker, trial consultant and author of the book, True Power, and the best selling audio program, 12 Secrets to High Self-Esteem. She can be reached at www.lindalarsen.com or 941-927-4700.

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