The Ape In The Corner Office: Should Business Leaders Apologize

According to Conniff (2005), “When [chimpanzees] fight, chimps kiss and make up, and we should, too” (Location No. 2751). In other words, Conniff proposes that as humans, we should apologize to one another after any conflict, just like chimpanzees. Throughout chapter nine of The Ape in the Corner Office: Understanding the Workplace Beast in All of Us, the important benefits of apologizing are discussed, mentioning that apologies have the power to heal, eliminate hate, and rebuild relationships (Conniff, 2005, Location No. 2718). In Stamato’s article, Should Business Leaders Apologize? Why, When and How An Apology Matters, the nature, structure, and significance of apologies is furthered explored and explained. Altogether, it is needless to say that apologies are a complex matter and Stamato’s article confirms this claim.
Apologies serve a multitude of roles. They can be used to express particular feelings of remorse, regret, or perhaps even guilt. According to Stamato (2008), apologies can
Considering business, Deborah Tannen, a researcher from Georgetown University, studied how business men and women regarded apologies. From her studies, she concluded that men tend to focus on apologies more in means of status implications than women, demonstrating that not only do varying business settings require different types of apologies, but that men will offer them differently than women and vice versa, which adds to the claim that apologies are a complex matter (Stamato, 2008, p. 2). Likewise, when apologies are associated with the law and with medical practice, each case is addressed differently. Until the idea of an “apology privilege” becomes a reality, people will be hesitant to apologize in fear of legal percussions in court and within a doctor’s office (Conniff, 2005, Location No. 2891 & Stamato, 2008, p.