I was emailing with a colleague to set up a time to meet. Then she dropped of the radar. I wondered what happened … was it me? Was there something I said? After a couple of weeks I was about to follow up with her. Then I received this email from her:
“I’m completely rude. I apologize profusely for not getting back to you. I am so sorry. I think my brain has been swallowed by a hippopotamus or something. Can we try again?”
Boy, did she save face. I was completely disarmed. I got a great laugh. I eagerly re-engaged. We’re meeting next week.
It’s easy to drop the ball in relationships. When we drop the ball – and we will- it’s easy to pick it up again. The ball is usually laying right at our feet. A simple, short email or phone call that offers humility and apology does the trick.
I haven’t returned the last 5 calls (maybe more) from my father. Today, I’ll change that.
Who you do you need to save face with? Is it a friend, family, a prospect, a networking connection? The ball’s right by your feet. Pick it up and run with it.
