Question

Which of the following are potential business-related costs of making an apology?
a permanent record in a performance review
a repaired business relationship
a routine response message
an implication of legal responsibility

Answer 1

a, c, and d.

- Permanent record in a performance review — yes, apologies can be documented and affect evaluations.
- A routine response message — yes, apologies can become canned or expected, reducing value and creating ongoing costs.
- An implication of legal responsibility — yes, apologies can be interpreted as admitting fault and have legal consequences.

A repaired business relationship is a benefit, not a cost.