Summary: Leaders often apologize when delivering tough news, but this can undermine their authority and create unnecessary resentment. Instead of apologizing, they should communicate the rationale behind their decisions clearly and confidently. This approach helps recipients understand the situation better and respond more appropriately.
there’s a difference between apologizing because you did something wrong vs apologizing because you aren’t sure how else to make this person less upset. (View Highlight)
If you apologize when there’s no reason to, you undermine yourself: You let them think they have a moral high ground, when they don’t. They feel justified in being upset, when they shouldn’t. (View Highlight)