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# elements of ethical apologies
According to apology expert Aaron Lazare, ethical apologies contain:
1. Acknowledgment of the offense that identifies your role, specifies the offensive behaviors you committed, acknowledges the negative effects, and confirms that you broke norms
- Don't be vague
- Don't use passive voice
- Don't make the offense conditional
- Don't question whether the victim was hurt
- Don't minimize the offense
2. Express remorse for the harm you caused and show that you intend to act differently in the future.
- Communicate shame, humility, and sincerity through words, voice, and body language
3. Offer an explanation for your behavior.
- Avoid saying: "It was an accident"; "That wasn't the real me"; "I was under a lot of pressure"
4. Make an effort to repair the damage.
## Sources
[[Organizational Ethics - Johnson 2019]]
## Tags
[[conflict]]
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<small>*Created on:* 2021-12-04</small>
<small>*Last modified on:* 2022-11-05</small>