13 times you shouldn't say 'I'm sorry' at work

There are people in every workplace who fail to apologize for their mistakeswhich can be seriously detrimental to their careers. Butthere are also those who are overly apologetic when there's actually nothing to be sorry for ... and thatisn't great, either.When you overuse the phrase "I'm sorry" or use it unnecessarily, it gets diluted and loses its sincerity. Plus, it'spretty annoying when someone prefaces everything with, "I'm sorry, but""Some people just use 'I'm sorry' as a filler phrase, like 'so,' or 'um,' or they may use it because they think it makes them seem more polite," explainsMichael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of"The Humor Advantage.""Others say 'I'm sorry' to convey a sense of deference to their superiorsand many use a well-placed 'I'm sorry' as a preemptive strike to avoid taking responsibility for their actions ('I'm really sorry but there's just no way I can get this report done byMonday')," Kerr explains.Whatever the reason, the biggest danger of severely overusing the phrase, he says, "is that it can make you look too passive or indecisive and might eventually create the sense that you lack confidence."You should apologize, of course, when you have inadvertently hurt someone's feelings on the job, or made mistakes that affect others(your company, clients, boss, or colleagues),"but don't apologize for things that are clearly out of your control, unless you are in ultimately incharge of the situation, such as being in charge of a department where there is a massive error," suggestsLynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of"Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job.""In addition, when you do apologize, don't have expectations of the other person. Don't expect them, for instance, to say, 'no problem at all,' or, 'no worries, it's fine!' Instead, do it with the intention of getting your point across," she says.Here are 13 specific times you shouldn't say "I'm sorry" at work:SEE ALSO:5 things to say instead of 'sorry'1. When you really aren't sorryWe've all witnessed the classic "non-apology apology" where someone thinks they've said they're sorry but they really haven't."Dogs can tell when we're not being sincere, so if your 'I'm sorry' drips with sarcasm or oozes insincerity and you're merely saying it because you think it will make the problem go away or get you out of the doghouse, then don't say it," Kerr advises. "Leave it for when you genuinely are sorry and want to convey ownership over on an issue."2. When you have absolutely nothing to be sorry forIf you're one of those people who just says "I'm sorry" as a filler phrase or to come off as polite, think carefully about whether what you're about to say is something you'd actually need to apologize for.For instance, "I'm sorry but I have to use the restroom" is not the best way to say that. Instead, you should go with: "Excuse me while I use the restroom."3. When you are making a decision that involves sticking to your core principles or valuesNever apologize for doing the right thing or sticking to what you believe in.For example, "I'm sorry but I can't lie to the client" should not begin with an apology."Never be sorry for sticking up for your beliefs and showing integrity," says Kerr.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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