A thought popped into my head when reading
this article covering Canada's Prime Minister apologizing to the Opposition Leader for misattributing a quotation on the international stage.
As a leader of a nation, an apology is never something issued lightly. There are consequences to not apologizing when you are clearly in the wrong. However, sometimes apologies aren't given even when they are due. Why is that?
Do you think apologizing is a show of weakness? Do you think admitting you were wrong only attracts people to your missteps or bad judgements rather than to you ability to move on and do other things well?
Or do you think apologizing is a show of strength...that it takes courage to admit you're wrong and to take responsibility for it. Making amends with the injured party takes energy and effort. Saying "I'm sorry" is never easy, is it?
What are the drawbacks of not apologizing, as a world leader or anybody for that matter? What are the drawbacks of apologizing?
What's the best way to handle issues where you were wrong about something? Does it matter if people know about it? If they don't know you were wrong, what do you do then?
Share your experiences with giving and receiving apologies. Let us know if you think they are generally the right thing to do or if they have little or no effect at all.
I generally think apologizing is a sign of strength. I think taking responsibility for your actions and owning up to them by first admitting you were wrong takes a lot of courage. Nobody likes to be wrong, and so hiding it is the path of least resistance. It should follow, however, that your future actions should indicate that you have learned and moved on from whatever circumstances surrounded the error. An apology should not be an empty gesture, especially in long-term relationships with family, friends, and other acquaintances.