Tuesday, January 14, 2014

It pays for bosses to say 'I'm sorry'

My Paper, Tuesday, January 14, 2014, Page A14, Lifestyle, Advance
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/emnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2014-01-14
Source Website: http://mypaper.sg/lifestyle/it-pays-bosses-say-im-sorry-20140114
By Ronald Alsop, BBC, mypaper, myp@sph.com.sg, published on Jan 14, 2014


To repair damaged relationships with employees, these executives decided to say two of the toughest words for many bosses to utter: 'I'm sorry.'
PHOTO: To repair damaged relationships with employees, these executives decided to say two of the toughest words for many bosses to utter: "I'm sorry."
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOb_oOzu9dKPRV0Qifglma0As7gjLllkiDwuPUx5WHUCuJvMXHItibmpV2LuuC_PjwbMTXiUY5wyc1EWuU36n6bOE5t938dBDSUC_g8UzJGl-RB_oCyRrz1cyACTH3-orsRZ_sttMkNA/s1600/setnja-sa-dinosaurima-07.jpg
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MR GORDON Nixon, chief executive officer of Royal Bank of Canada, apologised for not being more sensitive to employees, whose jobs were being outsourced, and said that they would be offered comparable positions within the bank.

Mr Tim Armstrong, CEO of AOL, acknowledged to his staff that he made a mistake when he publicly fired an employee during a company conference call and apologised to the ousted individual.

To repair damaged relationships with employees, these executives decided to say two of the toughest words for many bosses to utter: "I'm sorry."

Whatever the motivating factor, apologies can help restore a manager's credibility after a damaging error, and they also can inspire greater trust in management at a time when many workers are feeling disillusioned with employers.

PHOTO: Whatever the motivating factor, apologies can help restore a manager's credibility after a damaging error, and they also can inspire greater trust in management at a time when many workers are feeling disillusioned with employers.
Dino girl, picture posted by yatz, Cartoons & Comics / Traditional Media / Cartoons / Drawings, ©2010-2014 yatz
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Such mea culpas seem to be more common these days, partly because of the growing likelihood of a public uproar on social media when firms slip up.

Whatever the motivating factor, apologies can help restore a manager's credibility after a damaging error, and they also can inspire greater trust in management at a time when many workers are feeling disillusioned with employers.

For example, about a third of British employees characterise trust between them and senior management as weak, according to a study this year by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a human-resource organisation in London.

Similarly, a global study by Forum Corp, a Boston-based consultancy, found that about one third of workers trust business leaders less now than in the past. The managers in the survey were even more pessimistic: 43 per cent said they believe employees trust bosses less now.

Honesty clearly is the cornerstone of trust, and that includes owning up to mistakes and apologising. Some respondents to the British study said they would admire leaders if only they admitted their mistakes.

Beyond engendering trust, acknowledging an error and making amends can encourage greater openness throughout an organisation.

"When leaders admit mistakes, it shows they're human and vulnerable, and it makes it safe for others to talk about their mistakes, too," said Mr Dennis Reina, president of the Reina Trust Building Institute, a consulting firm based in Stowe, Vermont.

How common are apologies from bosses? It depends on whom you ask.

Many employees believe managers don't take responsibility for their screw-ups and don't express regret.

Only 19 per cent of employees said their managers often or always apologise.

But managers have quite different perceptions of their behaviour: 87 per cent said they often or always say they're sorry. But some managers said they don't apologise because they don't want to look weak or incompetent.


Many employees believe managers don't take responsibility for their screw-ups and don't express regret. Only 19 per cent of employees said their managers often or always apologise.
PHOTO: Many employees believe managers don't take responsibility for their screw-ups and don't express regret. Only 19 per cent of employees said their managers often or always apologise.
Picture posted by Attaturk on Tuesday, May 08, 2012 at 6:00 AM
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DAMAGING OMISSION

Failing to apologise can cause more damage than loss of trust. Mr Reina recalled a client that had an employee who became extremely frustrated when his supervisor refused to apologise for "raking him over the coals in a team meeting". In retaliation, he disclosed a customer's proprietary information on the Internet, which resulted in litigation and the loss of a US$10-million (S$13-million) contract, Mr Reina said.

"Most times, people just say: 'I'm out of here' in such situations, but sometimes an employee is hurting so badly, he wants to get even," he said.

The refusal to fess up to mistakes can poison the relationship between supervisors and their subordinates to such a degree that it may even contribute to depression. A study in Denmark found that it isn't a burdensome workload, but rather feelings of injustice that lead to depression.

"An important element of what we call relational justice is when supervisors treat employees with consideration and truthfulness," said researcher Matias Brodsgaard Grynderup, who works in the public-health department at the University of Copenhagen. Consequently, he believes admitting mistakes and apologising would make the workplace seem more just.


WHEN TO HOLD BACK

Of course, business leaders shouldn't apologise for every misstep and risk appearing ineffectual and losing respect.

It's also wise to apologise clearly and sincerely - but concisely. After taking responsibility for the mistake and pledging to do better in the future, managers should move on and avoid dwelling on the issue.

Employers also shouldn't expect apologies to work magic in every situation. They may not be very beneficial when office relationships were already badly strained before the mistake occurred.

"If the management enjoys high levels of trust from workers, then apologising is a good idea and more likely to be believed" and lead to forgiveness, said Dr Jin Li - an assistant professor of management and strategy at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University - who has studied trust issues in the workplace.

"When the existing level of trust is low, apologising will be less effective, and its benefit is likely to be smaller than the cost of being perceived as weak and incompetent," he said.
By Ronald Alsop, BBC, mypaper, myp@sph.com.sg, published on Jan 14, 2014


Pikachu Like A Boss
PHOTO: Pikachu: Like A Boss
Picture posted by BUG567, Cartoons & Comics / Traditional Media / Cartoons / Drawings, ©2012-2014 BUG567
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