25 Things Women Should Stop Apologizing For At Work

25 Things Women Should Stop Apologizing For At Work Its time to stop being sorry. Many of us were taught to be nice, mind our manners, and apologize. Those well-intended (gendered) behavior guidelines can hurt us in the workplace.Women apologize more than men. Pantene even created an ad that highlighted ourtendency to say sorry. However, it is important to notlagee that when evaluating the same set of situations, we identify more of them asapology-worthycompared to men. That said, Im sorry, weakens your position and puts you on the abwehr in the workplace.Save your sorry for when it is needed a difficult situation your coworker is going through at home...not before you ask a question. Here are 25 things we must stop apologizing for at work.1. Bumping into someone Pardon me, is a perfectly acceptable response when you bump into a colleague. Acknowledge, but dont apologize.2. Asking a question Dont abflug your question with, Im sorry instead use language like, Excuse me, Could you clar ify, or I have a question.3. Answering a question Youre asked something you dont have the answer to. Ill look into that, or No, I dont have the analysis for Asia, is better than apologizing.4. Getting sick Whether you stay home or leave suddenly during the day, do not apologize for falling illPresenteeismhurts productivity if youre contagious, your coworkers will thank you for staying home.5. Caring for a family member If a family member or friend falls ill or needs help following a medical procedure, dont apologize for using your time off to care for them.6. Declining a request Youre asked by a peer to do something you cant (or shouldnt). Decline without apology suggest other colleagues or related resources if youd like.7. Requesting materials Youre preparing for a meeting, and need certain supplies. State your request, not Im sorry, but could get a projector for todays session?8. Starting a meeting The meeting youre leading is about to begin and everyone is still chatting. Start w ith, Good afternoon, lets begin, and not, Im sorry to interrupt9. Being busy Your colleague wants to meet with you, but your calendar is full. Dont apologize see if you can skip a nice to have meeting or suggest a few alternative dates.10. Asking for benefits information HR teams are designed to source, attract, and keep great employees. When you ask for clarification on your benefits, dont apologize. State your question clearly so they can get you the information you need.11. Asking for time off In America, time off is a benefit that more thanhalf of us dont use in full. Dont abflug with, Im sorry to ask for a few days next month simply communicate the dates youre requesting.12. Announcing a pregnancy It can be scary to tell your employer about an upcoming pregnancy, even though it shouldnt be. Hereshow to tell your boss- no apologies permitted13. Writing an email Dont add sorry to your emails. It undermines your credibility and unnecessarily documents an apology.14. Rescheduling a meeting Dont make huge deal out of having to move a meeting. A simple, We will need to reschedule, with alternative times will suffice.15. Beginning your presentation Right before you begin presenting, an apology slips out, like Sorry, these slides arent as organized as Id like, or Sorry I only prepared this yesterday. Dont undercut your authority before youve even begun16. Addressing a disruptive colleague Sorry, we need to move on to the next agenda item, may silence Disruptive Dan, but why are you apologizing? Instead, try, Dan, your point is noted. Now, well address the next item, to ensure we cover everything on todays agenda.17. Requesting time from a senior executive Senior sponsors play a critical role in career advancement. Hereshow to cultivate those relationships. Importantly, do not start off by apologizing when you ask for their time.18. Catching up after returning from maternity leave When you return back from vacation, parental leave, or an illness, you need help to catch up. Be gracious to your colleagues, but dont apologize for being out or needing assistance to get back up to speed.19. Participating in an important life event Everyones life outside of work is different. If youre not available because youre at your daughters important recital, or cheering for your best friend in her first marathon, dont apologize - find another way to get the information or suggest a different time.20. Popping into the boss office Your boss door is open, and youd like to tell her about the fantastic client feedback you received. Dont start with, Im sorry, Sheryl, do you have a minute? Instead, try Sheryl, since your door is open, I know youd appreciate some fantastic client feedback. Shell let you know if she doesnt have time.21. Admitting a big mistake Yikes - the report you sent to Alpha Company included two massive data errors. Immediately alert your boss bring her the details of the situation and at least two ideas on how to fix it, not an apology.22. Inf orming an employee they didnt get promoted This is tough, but a well-intended apology undermines your promotion processes. Be direct and empathetic but not apologetic Cameron, you didnt receive a promotion. You may be disappointed I can provide a detailed summary of feedback on the two skills youll need to improve.23. Giving a client bad nachrichtensendung Communicating bad news gracefully is challenging. Your client wants to understand the situation, why it occurred, and what alternatives they are now facing - not how sorry you are.24. Giving an employee a poor performance review Ideally, youve had prior discussions about where they are failing to meet expectations. However, discussing a poor performance review is difficult. Stick to the facts apologizing can only undermine the feedback youre providing.25. Firing someone Letting someone go is best done swiftly, directly, and in partnership with HR. You may be tempted to apologize, but doing so can muddy the message. Im so sorry, An dre I have to let you go, may sound nice, but its not clear. Instead, use language like Andre, today is your last day at Alpha Company. You have not achieved your goals in the last three months and are frequently late to work. Here is the paperwork to complete in order to receive your last paycheck.Stop apologizing and start being direct. If you think you apologize frequently, share this article with a trusted colleague or friend who can hold you accountable. And, if youre mentoring other women, let them know if you observe them over-apologizing - theyll thank you for it--The Feminist Financieris on a mission to help women build wealth and own their financial independence, by improving financial literacy and taking the mystery out of money. Ms. Financier is also a shoe addict, travel fanatic, and wine enthusiast.