Sorry, Not Sorry

Sorry is a powerful word.

But over-apologizing weakens your power at work.

Late by two minutes? Sorry.

Tiny typo in an email? Sorry.

Not even your fault? Still sorry.

Over-apologizing makes you look less confident.

And weakens the power of genuine apologies.

So, how do we stop?

9 Ways to Ditch "Sorry"

(And Sound More Confident):

1. Delayed response

❌ "Sorry for the delay."

✅ "Thanks for your patience."

2. Need someone's time

❌ "Sorry to bother you."

✅ "When you have a moment, could you...?"

3. Declining a request

❌ "Sorry, I can't help."

✅ "I appreciate you thinking of me, but I can't."

4. Missed a meeting

❌ "Sorry I missed it."

✅ "Thanks for understanding, I'll catch up."

5. Setting boundaries

❌ "Sorry, I can't make it."

✅ "I'm unavailable, but how about…?"

6. Following up

❌ "Sorry to follow up."

✅ "Just checking in, any updates?"

7. Made a mistake

❌ "Sorry, my bad!"

✅ "Thanks for catching that, I'll fix it."

8. Taking up space

❌ "Sorry for taking your time."

✅ "I appreciate your time today."

9. Asking a question

❌ "Sorry, this might be dumb."

✅ "Here's something I'd like clarity on…"

Stop shrinking yourself. 

It's not helping anyone.

These small changes will shift how you're perceived.

Which "sorry" are you letting go of first?

Source: Dora Vanourek

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/doravanourek_9-ways-to-stop-saying-sorry-at-work-activity-7309202444016566273-g5Fu?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAAibFXUBKjuR4skSQw8r8nr-p7IN-ZCAFYk