Phil Hodges: Should Leaders Apologize?

Phil Hodges is a co-founder of Lead Like Jesus and a co-author of Lead Like Jesus Revisited as well as five other books. Phil also has an extensive background in the marketplace through his involvement in Labor Union negotiations as well as years as an executive with Xerox and US Steel. 

In today's podcast Phil discusses the topic of an Effective Apology, how to say “I’m Sorry” so that it communicates that we truly own our mistakes. Phil talks about a difference between “Owning” our mistake versus “Explaining” what happened. When we default to explaining our actions rather than owning them, we ultimately divert from and distract from the actual issue.

How we apologize as leaders at home or work speaks volumes and has the potential to build trusting relationship or to destroy trust almost in an instant.   

Fess up when you mess up...

Own it... Don'r Explain It...