The Time It Takes for an Apology to Become Due: Lessons from a Late Management Interview

When it comes to managing an interview or any important appointment, arriving on time can often make or break the opportunity. A personal experience from a late appointment for a management position at a hospital offers substantial insights into the grace periods we have before an apology becomes essential.

The Late Appointment: A Management Interview Gone Awry

I had a valuable interview for a management position at a hospital, but the timing was challenging. With no time to spare, I had rushed to drop my children off at school, only to realize I had left my suit coat at home. The winter weather and a highway accident compounded the delay, resulting in a 20-minute tardiness to the interview. Upon arrival, I removed my topcoat, only to discover I had not taken the suit coat with me.

The receptionist’s disapproving glance and the shuffling VP's silly grin spoke volumes. After a two-hour discussion, the missed suit coat was not mentioned once. Miraculously, I was offered the job.

The Aftermath: A Successful Career and Innovation

Semesters later, the VP, who had taken a leap from a lucrative career to focus on creating exercise facilities for the physically disabled, reached out to me. He was seeking a leader to manage a state-of-the-art facility. This opportunity came with significant challenges, including dealing with individuals confined to wheelchairs or bedridden.

Together, we achieved remarkable results. In a warm water environment, over 90% of participants regained mobility, with some needing just walkers or canes. Feedback from medical professionals and university teaching hospitals turned our “Arthoaquatic” equipment into a standard practice. A lighter, home-installable version was eventually developed, leading to hundreds of devices worldwide.

Lessons Learned from the Experience

While my initial blunder of being late for the interview nearly cost me a career opportunity, it taught me several important lessons:

Imperfections Are Inevitable: No matter how meticulous we are, disruptions and errors can still occur. What matters most is how we recover from them. The Power of Persistence: Despite unforeseen challenges, perseverance tends to triumph. The VP’s resilience in pursuing his vision ultimately led to significant success. The Grace Period of Tolerance: Employers often have a window of tolerance when it comes to minor mishaps like being late. An immediate apology can often mitigate the impact of such issues.

In conclusion, the time it takes for an apology to become due varies depending on the situation and the relationship at hand. While the immediate apology can be crucial in many cases, there are instances where the grace period can indeed be leveraged to one's advantage.