I am sorry

It sounds pretty simple.  It's what I tell my kids to say to each other almost every day.  Three of the simplest but most powerful words you can imagine.   Why is it so hard to admit that you are not perfect and that you regret how you handled a situation or hurt someone? None of us are right 100% of the time.

A new organization called "The Sorry Works Coalition" (www.sorryworks.net) is trying to get doctors to apologize in order to reduce medical and malpractice litigation.  Their slogan is to "recognize, respond, and resolve" medical errors.  Examples of apologies are discussed in an article by Deroy Merdock here.  Sorryworks claims that they have resolved many conflicts and avoided costly and painful litigation through this process.

Recognize, Respond, and Resolve is a good recipe for apologizing and moving on.  From the recipient's point of view, it is important to know that the other person recognizes that their action caused pain, that they take responsibility for their actions, and that they suggest a way to resolve the issue.  Sounds like common sense to me.