Political campaign season is in full swing and inevitably, there are many scandals and crises. The most recent is the apparent plagiarism of Michelle Obama’s 2008 DNC remarks by Melania Trump. Meredith McIver, a long-time Trump Organization staffer recently issued an apology, taking full responsibility for the lifted remarks and offered her resignation (which was not accepted).
We think the power of an authentic apology is key in crisis communication and this article demonstrates some great examples of well thought-out apologies, as well as an example of an apology gone wrong.
Never hesitate to be sincere and admit wrongdoing. An apology captures sympathy. A cover-up or denial captures anger. Anger lingers much longer in the press than sympathy.