Here's Why You Should Never Say 'I'm Sorry' Again

Be honest: if you are female and in the career world, you've uttered the phrase "I'm sorry" more times than you care to recall. You preface statements with "I'm sorry," utter the phrase after someone steps on your shoe or closes the elevator door on your foot, or say it to grab someone's attention.

Bearing that in mind, Pantene has just released a new ShineStrong ad campaign, I'm Sorry, that showcases how women belittle themselves by mentioning the phrase everywhere, from the boardroom to the bedroom. The next phase of the commercial showcases what happens when these women remove "sorry" from their vocabulary.

This advertisement is the second wave of Pantene's women empowerment ads. Last year's commercial (Labels Against Women) highlighted workplace labels; "I'm Sorry" is just the latest in a series of thought-provoking ad campaigns geared toward professional women.

You're not really sorry. What you are really trying to do is tell the other person that they must be busier or more important than you--which is why you're "sorry" to disturb them. Except this is almost never the case, especially when you are at the office. You are there to work, and oftentimes that means offering up your ideas. That's what your boss and coworkers are looking for. Saying you're sorry is holding you back.

Sorry is a five letter word. You need to banish the word "sorry" from your workplace vocabulary. Don't use it as a crutch. Don't hide behind its emptiness. Stand up for what you believe in. Do you want someone's attention? Ask for it. Don't apologize for it. Colleen Jay, president of P&G Global Hair Care and Color says, "We believe the message of the 'Not Sorry' video will resonate with women, encouraging them to be more aware of this diminishing behavior and, in turn, prevent any bias they may be unconsciously creating."

Bring Back Confidence. You are where you are professionally because you earned it. You didn't just get lucky. Your talents and skills were recognized, and that's what earned you the job and got you the position you deserve. You have nothing to feel sorry about. So if you feel an "I'm sorry" coming on, bite your tongue, pause, watch this ad and rephrase your next statement. "I think," maybe?