“It takes a great deal of character strength to apologize quickly out of one’s heart rather than out of pity. A person must possess himself and have a deep sense of security in fundamental principles and values in order to genuinely apologize.”  Stephen Covey

A strong leader recognizes when he has done something wrong or made a mistake. He is willing to accept responsibility, acknowledge the wrong to the people he wronged, take all appropriate measures to fix it and ensure that it doesn’t happen again. Clean and simple. Excluded from this conversation are John Wayne and Jethro Gibbs. Both are such heroes that their view of apologies as a sign of weakness is understood and accepted.

Of course, we hear more public apologies that we do personal, intimate apologies. Are public apologies the next big thing? I hope not. Politicians, business leaders, sportsmen and other celebrities are in the media daily with some sort of mea culpa. It seems that often they do more damage than good. Continue reading…