IT TAKES A BIG MAN TO ADMIT HE MADE A MISTAKE

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My meeting wasn’t going well.  I was making a presentation to a company about creating and executing a social media strategy.  In the meeting were two young men.  One was the “Internet Manager” and the other was the “Web Master.”  They were responsible for social media in addition to the twenty other jobs they had at the firm.

Actually they were doing fairly well, but their efforts were not consistent and were not necessarily producing much in the way of results.

I was in a somewhat awkward position.  I felt that my partner, Phyllis Neill, and I could add significantly to their efforts.  But I didn’t want to sound as if they were doing a bad job for fear I would hurt their feelings.

Well, I obviously, came off a bit negative because the Internet Manager became defensive and started pointing out their successes. He said they were perfectly confident they could get the job done without any outside help.  Oh well, I messed that one up.

I walked out of the room a bit disappointed in myself.  I tried to be sensitive to their needs, but I must have overdone it.

But then something happened I never expected.  I received an e-mail from the Internet Manager saying, “Thanks for the opportunity to discuss social media and its role in business.  I made notes during your presentation and in looking back over them, I realize that we see eye to eye about the majority of this new media. I apologize if I came across as gruff, disinterested or put-off in anyway.  I assure you that is not the case. I look forward to further discussions.”

I’m not sure I have ever received an apology like this before.  Most people when they act badly or make a mistake try to cover it up or pretend like it never happened.

I don’t know if I stepped over the line or not, but it takes a big man to apologize. I certainly learned from this young man and he earned my respect.  This is your WeMentor guy saying it’s not what you know, but whOO you know.