“I apologize,” the hardest and most powerful phrase in the leadership lexicon…

“An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything.”

Lynn Johnston

"I apologize”…it seems like such a simple phrase and it might be the most powerful phrase in the leadership lexicon but I know from personal experience that it is probably the hardest things for anyone to say…as a matter of fact I usually try to rationalize my way out of it if at all possible.

At the same time, I think it is so hard to say because anything in life that is truly worth doing is extremely hard. Whether it is getting good grades, cultivating a real relationship with Your family and friends, or getting into good shape, what in life that worth doing isn’t exceptionally hard?

As leaders in this world, you are called to set the example, and probably the best example you can set for those in your life is admitting that you are wrong and then actually doing something about it.

You see…everyone can accept the “thank you” statements and everyone can function when things are going well. Only the leader can step up and apologize because that is what being a leaders is all about…doing the things that other people won’t do…

Question for this week: Part I: Why don't people apologize more often? How good are you at apologizing when you are wrong? Part II: When is the last time you saw a real apology and what was the situation? Part III: When is the last time that you apologized to someone or a group of people for being wrong? How did it turn out? Part IV: What is something that you have done recently or in the past that you haven’t apologized for yet but that you know that you need to take care of in order to be the leader you signed up to be? What day are you going to do it? Who are you going to tell to hold you accountable besides me?