Times You Should Definitely Not Say “Sorry” and What to Do Instead

I am someone who says “sorry” for even the tiniest things, and if you have clicked on this text it means you are too. Think about how many times you apologized for a legitimate reason? Sociologists say that needless apologizing has become our habitual way of communicating, but it actually kills our confidence.

When you tell the truth

There is absolutely no need to apologize for telling the truth, but try to formulate your thoughts without starting with “I am sorry. Use phrases like, “I think” or “In my opinion.” This will make you a person whose advice will always have value.

When you are too emotional

“By letting someone know how you feel, you’re helping that person understand you,” says Donna Flagg, author of Surviving Dreaded Conversations. So why should you apologize if that person really means a lot to you?

When something you can’t control happens

Even when we planned everything perfectly there are situations we just can’t control, like being late because of trafficl or a technical mistake that ruined your presentation. You don’t have to apologize for things that were out of your control, instead, it’s better to thank the person (or people), show that this affected you too, and try to find a solution to make everyone happy.