2. Apologizing when you don’t actually feel bad
“Often we’re apologizing more out of habit and it’s uncomfortable for everyone,” says Stemen. She urges you not to apologize for something “unless you have actually violated your morals and values and feel guilty.”
And when you can, try to replace a statement of apology with one of gratitude. “I’m sorry for being late,” for instance, could be tweaked to “Thank you for waiting for me.” As Stemen notes, this small change “does wonders for the rapport in a conversation.”
