Do You Apologize Too Much at Work? Coaching Tip: Reframe It.

Ever catch yourself saying “Sorry, just a quick thought…” or “Sorry to bother you…” when there’s nothing to apologize for? Over-apologizing can make you seem less confident, plus now you’ve immediately created a new power dynamic in the situation – one where you are not an equal team player.

Here are some quick reframes to own your voice without over-apologizing:

Instead of Saying…	Try This Instead…
“Sorry for interrupting.”	“I’d like to add something here.”
“Sorry to bother you.”	“Do you have a moment?”
“Sorry for the delay.”	“Thanks for your patience.”
“Sorry, I don’t understand.”	“Could you clarify that for me?”
“Sorry, but I disagree.”	“I see it differently—here’s why.”
“Sorry for the mistake.”	“I appreciate your patience. Here’s the fix.”
“Sorry, I just think that…”	“I believe that…”
“Sorry for taking up time.”	“I appreciate the discussion.”
“Sorry, I need more time on this.”	“I’ll have this ready by [specific day/time].”
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure if this was important.”	“I wanted to flag this because it could impact [X].”
“Sorry for following up again.”	“Circling back on this—let me know if you need anything else from me.”
“Sorry, I don’t have the answer.”	“I’ll look into this and get back to you.”

Small shifts in language make a big difference. They help you own your ideas and create a dialogue instead of apologizing for your presence.

In large, global teams, confidence and precision in communication help ideas land more effectively. Reframing “sorry” makes collaboration smoother—especially when working cross-functionally or with senior leadership. Clarity of communication beats over-apologizing—every time.

Where do you catch yourself over-apologizing the most? Let’s discuss.

Team Player