How To Apologize For Being Late

The key to a good “sorry I’m late” apology isn’t how you say it, it’s what you actually apologize for.

Being late is a part of life, and it’s always polite to apologize when it happens. But what makes a good apology? During the Peak Work Performance Summit, psychologist Ron Friedman asked Peter Bregman, the author of Four Seconds: All the Time You Need to Stop Counter-Productive Habits and Get the Results You Want. Bregman explained that most people apologize for the wrong things when they’re late for something:

Most people will apologize and offer an excuse. “I’m sorry I’m late, this meeting ran over.” “...I’m sorry I’m late, I didn’t intend to be late.” But the person who’s been waiting for you for twenty minutes isn’t experiencing your intention. They’re experiencing the impact of the result.
Instead of offering up a reason or excuse for why you were late, Bregman suggests you focus your apology on the impact you’ve made or the problems you’ve caused. Say something like “Sorry for keeping you waiting” or “I’m so sorry for taking up more of your time” or even “Thank you for your flexibility.” If you show everyone that you’re sorry for using up their valuable time, your apology will sound much more sincere.

3 Steps To Join #FowlerNation!
1. Subscribe To The Fowler Show:
2. 'Like' The Richard Fowler Show on Facebook
3. 'Follow' Us on Twitter

Are you a fan of The Fowler Show? Become a Patron & help support independent media! Learn more here:

Want to help out but don't have any money to donate? Donate your account & help us get our stories out on social media. Learn more here:

If you liked this clip, share it with your friends and hit that "like" button!

1,500 Subscriber Behind The Scenes Reward Video -

Subscribe to our Podcast on iTunes for free!

@fowlershow
@richardafowler

Story:

[thepokekid]

It's funny the other Richard is not here because I say "Don't be black!", admittedly stereotypes of CP time has me always trying to get to places early (as you feel like when you are late, you feel like people will think you are always late).

The real advice is, I think: apologize early if you are going to be late, and be prepared to go, so that when you do arrive you can quickly get to speed with everyone else.

I will say, I don't mind when people are a few mins. late or so, depending on the situation (from 5min to 1hr), but I feel like I do get annoyed if a person reschedules all the time. Sometimes I feel like I'd be happier if they came late, it just depends because usually I try to plan for stuff at least a week early, people changing the day or hour or so throughout that gets grading as I have to reshuffle my schedule for them, or that I might not have time in the new spot so that it feels like we equally can't make time or are at fault.