Sorry, not sorry

Here's a HACK that will reduce your stress and make you sound more confident!

Sometimes, we tend to over-apologize. How many times have you uttered the words "I'm sorry" when you haven't actually offended someone or made an error? Unfortunately, it's a common phenomenon, especially if you're young and just entering the workforce—or if you're a woman.

So, here are 5 alternative approaches to saying 'sorry' at work (according to the Forbes magazine):

1️⃣ Find a way to say 'thank you.'

2️⃣ Don't apologize for 'bothering people. e.g. When you need to talk to your boss, say, "Is now a good time for a quick question?" Don't apologize for having an opinion or a question that will enable you to get your job done.

3️⃣ Express self-awareness: "Thanks for pointing that out. What else is worth knowing here?" Focus on what's needed to achieve the desired outcome, not on what you need.

4️⃣ Recognize the perceived failure and respond with confidence: "That didn't go as well as planned, but I got this. Let me go to work." And then go to work!

5️⃣ Be rational! We often say sorry to introduce a different view. Instead of saying, "Sorry, I disagree." you could say, "Let's look at this from a different angle."