Leadership 2020- Apology

In early June 2020 it seems that in America and around the world that a lot of people (more and more white people) are joining the conversations about racism. Many have begun to reflect and think, (as I have), if in fact through silence, we have contributed to prolonged injustice. I have given witness to people having some difficult conversations. I’m doing it myself and it is proving extremely tricky. Now it feels like tensions may be easing just a little and it also appears that some conversations are leading to apologies. Some apologies feel great and some feel hollow.

When any of us say we are sorry, that this is not an apology. It’s just one component of an apology.

Leaders that I have admired in society and organizations around the world were all people that developed the capacity to :

• admit it, if and when they were wrong;

• apologize properly and authentically;

• learn and grow from difficult situations, and

• develop new habits, as well as new ways of thinking and being.

If there ever was a time needed to learn how to improve these skills, now may be the time. It applies to all of us, including me. It applies to nations, politicians, police forces, legislative and judicial leaders, cities, sports organizations, schools, businesses large and small, and even churches. The list is endless. An apology process (similar to the one below) is a central part of helping with that improvement.