Usuallywemayneedtowritealetterofapologyforsuchsituationsas:adefective,damaged,orincompleteproduct;alatepayment;anoffensivebehavior;amisseddeadline;shippingdelay;missinganappointmentorameeting.Ratherthandwellonthemistake,however,weshouldtakequickactiontoremedytheproblem.Effectivelettersofapologyisanimportantpartofthatprocessandactuallyimprovestherelationship.
Inordertomakealetterofapologyeffective,alwayswriteitassoonaspossibleaftertheoffensiveactiontakesplace.Writeabriefletterthatiscarefullywordedandsincere.Wheneverpossible,makesuitablerestitutionandassuretheoffendedpartythatyouwillnotrepeatyourregrettablebehaviorinthefuture.Backupyourapologyletterwithappropriatebehavioratthenextavailableopportunity.;Towritesuccessfullettersofapology,writersneedtobeabletodothefollowings:;?
TIMING.Writetheapologyletterassoonaspossible.
ACTIONS.Ratherthanfocusingonthedamageyouhavecaused,writeaboutthingsyouwilldotorectifythesituation.
BRIEF.Keepyourapologylettershortandtothepoint.
SINCERITY.Noonewantstoreadoverlydramaticlanguage.Chooseyourwordscarefullyandexpressyourselfclearlyandsimply.
TONE.Yourapologylettershouldbeconsiderateandrespectful.Remember,youaretryingtorebuildadamagedrelationship.;Samples1:;DearMr.PierceMeyer:
WelcomebacktoFourSeasonsResort!WearepleasedtohostyouduringyoustayinLangkawi,Malaysia.
Weapologizethatyourconfirmedroomwasunavailablelastnight,andwearesorryforthisinconveniencethismayhavecausedyou.Becauseseveralguestsdidnotdepartasscheduled,wewereforcedtoprovideyouaccommodationselsewhere.Foryourtrouble,wewerehappytocoverthecostoflastnight’slodging.
Ourgoalnowistoprovideyouwithoutstandingserviceandwarmhospitality.Tothatend,wehaveupgradedyourroomatnoexpensetoyou