In his ‘Essay on Criticism’, Alexander Pope assured us ‘to err is human’. Mastering the art of apologising, therefore, became an essential life skill. Whatever your position on the social and corporate ladders, there will inevitably be times when you will have to say you’re sorry (but not necessarily admit you’re wrong). The ability to apologise is an admirable trait: it takes a ‘big’ person to say they’re sorry, which can be a powerful management technique. Here’s how you can master this art… 1. Recognise the two types of apology. The most common form of apology is an admission that you’re wrong – just as Pope’s famous line suggests. A second type, however, is an apology for your actions – such as when laying down the law to a staff member who submits a report several days late. In doing so you point out that any repetition will lead to [...]