How to make "I'm sorry" work for you
The sad truth: You can bat your eyelashes, and put on your best droopy-lipped puppy dog face...but there are times when flirting your way through an apology doesn't work (gasp!). We know, swallowing your pride is about as fun as, well, saying "I'm sorry." But whether you're trying to get back in your boss' good graces after an uber-flub at the office, or trying to win back your boyfriend's heart after an unfortunate flirting session with the bartender (we know, you were just being friendly!), there's a right and wrong way to say you're sorry.
Do it sooner rather than Later
Just rip off the band-aid -- quickly. Once you know you've messed up, fess up. Wait too long, and you just might be apologizing for waiting to apologize. And that's just excessive.
Choose Your Words
Few things in this life are more make-your-head-explode annoying than when you're arguing with your man and his apology includes some form of "I'm sorry that you can't get over it." You want someone to apologize for what they DID, right? It's safe to say that "my bad" doesn't work either. You've got to own up to your faux pas. "I'm sorry I did that" or "I made a mistake" are much, much better. Really, an insincere apology is worse than no apology at all.
Grand Gestures
Guys have this move down. When you screw up, send flowers. This one's worked for centuries. In fact, put your florist on speed dial.
Virtual Sorry
This is tempting. Email is fast, and texting is even faster. And it would save you from the potential awkwardness of a face-to-face apology. But keying a quick "SRY" into your cell just isn't very sincere.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
If you absolutely can't face someone, put your stellar penmanship to good use and write a letter. The best part? You can write down exactly what you mean without falling into the emotional minefield that sometimes comes with big apologies. This way, if the person is still super-upset, you won't witness the explosion. Plus, there's something retro and sweet about a letter. It shows that you've really put time and thought into your apology.
