Ever caught yourself rehearsing what to say at work - terrified one wrong phrase could spark backlash?&nbsp; In this Quick Win, I speak with Clare Stephens, former Editor-in-Chief at Mamamia, about the fear of getting it wrong, how to handle mistakes, and why the most powerful apology is often the simplest one.&nbsp; Clare learnt the hard way that over-explaining a mistake can make things worse. After facing public criticism early in her career, she reframed her approach to errors &ndash; both online and in leadership. Her advice? Keep apologies short, unreserved, and genuine. Then move on.&nbsp; Clare and I discuss:&nbsp; <ul> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Why leaders fear saying the wrong thing in today&rsquo;s workplace&nbsp;</li> </ul> <ul> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">How to create a culture where mistakes are met with grace, not blame&nbsp;</li> </ul> <ul> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">The fine line between accountability and people-pleasing&nbsp;</li> </ul> <ul> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Why long, detailed apologies rarely work&nbsp;</li> </ul> <ul> <li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">The simple framework for owning mistakes and moving forward&nbsp;</li> </ul> &nbsp; KEY QUOTES&nbsp; &ldquo;The best apology is short and unreserved. There&rsquo;s no excuses. Just, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m apologising,&rsquo; and then you move on.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;You&rsquo;re actually a worse leader if you can&rsquo;t be direct.&rdquo;&nbsp; Connect with Clare Stephens on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/clare.stephenss/?hl=en">Instagram,</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-stephens/">LinkedIn</a> and check out her latest book The Worst Thing I&rsquo;ve Ever Done <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-worst-thing-i-ve-ever-done-clare-stephens/book/9781922928030.html?srsltid=AfmBOop1F2IztiTE7rARJrLajWN9Q9yXdpUXDmDDzMWzOczxDBsgW2rR&amp;irclickid=04zTej1lLxycRECXXxRWp2P6UksXsr2bTxUV0U0&amp;utm_campaign=Clare%20Stephens%20Writer&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_source=Impact&amp;bk_source=6280588&amp;bk_source_id=6280588&amp;irgwc=1">here</a>.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/how-to-lead-when-youre-scared-of-saying-the-wrong-thing">Listen to the full conversation with Clare here.</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: <a href="https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/">https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/</a>&nbsp; Connect with me on the socials:&nbsp; Linkedin (<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber">https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber</a>)&nbsp; Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanthai">https://www.instagram.com/amanthai</a>)&nbsp; If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at <a href="https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe">https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe</a>&nbsp; Visit <a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcast">https://www.amantha.com/podcast</a> for full show notes from all episodes.&nbsp; Get in touch at <a href="mailto:amantha@inventium.com.au">amantha@inventium.com.au</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; Credits:&nbsp; Host: Amantha Imber&nbsp; Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler&nbsp;See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Ever caught yourself rehearsing what to say at work - terrified one wrong phrase could spark backlash?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;In this Quick Win, I speak with Clare Stephens, former Editor-in-Chief at &lt;em&gt;Mamamia&lt;/em&gt;, about the fear of getting it wrong, how to handle mistakes, and why the most powerful apology is often the simplest one.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Clare learnt the hard way that over-explaining a mistake can make things worse. After facing public criticism early in her career, she reframed her approach to errors &amp;ndash; both online and in leadership. Her advice? Keep apologies short, unreserved, and genuine. Then move on.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p aria-level="2"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Clare and I discuss:&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&amp;quot;335552541&amp;quot;:1,&amp;quot;335559685&amp;quot;:720,&amp;quot;335559991&amp;quot;:360,&amp;quot;469769226&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;Symbol&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469769242&amp;quot;:[8226],&amp;quot;469777803&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;left&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777804&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777815&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;hybridMultilevel&amp;quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"&gt;Why leaders fear saying the wrong thing in today&amp;rsquo;s workplace&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&amp;quot;335552541&amp;quot;:1,&amp;quot;335559685&amp;quot;:720,&amp;quot;335559991&amp;quot;:360,&amp;quot;469769226&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;Symbol&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469769242&amp;quot;:[8226],&amp;quot;469777803&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;left&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777804&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777815&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;hybridMultilevel&amp;quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"&gt;How to create a culture where mistakes are met with grace, not blame&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&amp;quot;335552541&amp;quot;:1,&amp;quot;335559685&amp;quot;:720,&amp;quot;335559991&amp;quot;:360,&amp;quot;469769226&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;Symbol&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469769242&amp;quot;:[8226],&amp;quot;469777803&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;left&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777804&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777815&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;hybridMultilevel&amp;quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"&gt;The fine line between accountability and people-pleasing&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&amp;quot;335552541&amp;quot;:1,&amp;quot;335559685&amp;quot;:720,&amp;quot;335559991&amp;quot;:360,&amp;quot;469769226&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;Symbol&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469769242&amp;quot;:[8226],&amp;quot;469777803&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;left&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777804&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777815&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;hybridMultilevel&amp;quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"&gt;Why long, detailed apologies rarely work&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&amp;quot;335552541&amp;quot;:1,&amp;quot;335559685&amp;quot;:720,&amp;quot;335559991&amp;quot;:360,&amp;quot;469769226&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;Symbol&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469769242&amp;quot;:[8226],&amp;quot;469777803&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;left&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777804&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;469777815&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;hybridMultilevel&amp;quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"&gt;The simple framework for owning mistakes and moving forward&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p aria-level="2"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;KEY QUOTES&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;ldquo;The best apology is short and unreserved. There&amp;rsquo;s no excuses. Just, &amp;lsquo;I&amp;rsquo;m apologising,&amp;rsquo; and then you move on.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;ldquo;You&amp;rsquo;re actually a worse leader if you can&amp;rsquo;t be direct.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Connect with Clare Stephens on &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/clare.stephenss/?hl=en"&gt;Instagram,&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-stephens/"&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/a&gt; and check out her latest book &lt;em&gt;The Worst Thing I&amp;rsquo;ve Ever Done&lt;/em&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-worst-thing-i-ve-ever-done-clare-stephens/book/9781922928030.html?srsltid=AfmBOop1F2IztiTE7rARJrLajWN9Q9yXdpUXDmDDzMWzOczxDBsgW2rR&amp;amp;irclickid=04zTej1lLxycRECXXxRWp2P6UksXsr2bTxUV0U0&amp;amp;utm_campaign=Clare%20Stephens%20Writer&amp;amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;amp;utm_source=Impact&amp;amp;bk_source=6280588&amp;amp;bk_source_id=6280588&amp;amp;irgwc=1"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/how-to-lead-when-youre-scared-of-saying-the-wrong-thing"&gt;Listen to the full conversation with Clare here.&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;My latest book &lt;em&gt;The Health Habit&lt;/em&gt; is out now. You can order a copy here: &lt;a href="https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/"&gt;https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Connect with me on the socials:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Linkedin (&lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber&lt;/a&gt;)&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;Instagram (&lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/amanthai"&gt;https://www.instagram.com/amanthai&lt;/a&gt;)&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at &lt;a href="https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe"&gt;https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Visit &lt;a href="https://www.amantha.com/podcast"&gt;https://www.amantha.com/podcast&lt;/a&gt; for full show notes from all episodes.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Get in touch at &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:amantha@inventium.com.au"&gt;amantha@inventium.com.au&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Credits:&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;Host: Amantha Imber&amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt;Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See &lt;a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener"&gt;omnystudio.com/listener&lt;/a&gt; for privacy information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

How I Work

Quick Win: What leaders get wrong about saying sorry with Clare Stephens

Quick Win: What leaders get wrong about saying sorry with Clare Stephens

Description