The Perfect Response to an Apology: Obama to Biden
Obama did it again. On Senator Joe Biden’s big day—the day he was to focus on his official announcement about running for president—Obama stole the headlines by his response to the sputtering Senator’s explanations about his earlier remarks concerning his Democratic rivals. In the article that hit the streets Wednesday, Biden is quoted by the New York Observer sizing up Senator Barack Obama this way: "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that’s a storybook, man."
So when those comments hit the airwaves, as my granddad used to say, Senator Biden had "lots of ‘splaining to do." And explain, he did. Biden said his remarks were taken out of context and that he was referring to a phrase used by his mother: "clean as a whistle, sharp as a tack." He went on to apologize, "I deeply regret any offense my remark in the New York Observer might have caused anyone. That was not my intent and I expressed that to Senator Obama."
But here’s where Obama took over the limelight—and where many other politicians, CEOs, and public figures could pick up a few tips.
First, Obama gave Biden the benefit of the doubt about his intentions. In an off-camera interview in the Senate hallway, he was quoted as saying he thinks Biden "didn’t intend to offend" anyone.
Second, he graciously accepted the offered apology. When the media and others began to bombard him about his "reactions"—as they typically do when looking for controversy—Obama disappointed them. Instead, he said about Biden’s apology phone call to him: "I have no problem with Joe Biden…. I told him it [the call] wasn’t necessary. We’ve got more important things to worry about. We have got Iraq. We have got health care. We have got energy. This is low on the list."
Finally, he set the record straight about the situation by correcting any inaccuracies. Later Obama issued a written statement to clarify the situation about previous African-Americans running for president: "I didn’t take Senator Biden’s comments personally, but obviously they were historically inaccurate. African-American presidential candidates like Jesse Jackson, Shirley Chisholm, Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton gave a voice to many important issues through their campaigns, and no one would call them inarticulate."
The one, two, three punch: 1. Avoid assuming any negative intentions. 2. Graciously accept the offered apology. 3. Set the record straight. A gracious response to apologies wins over sensitivity and demands every time.
Another case when less is more: The smaller the pout, the bigger the man.
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Great example and nice explanation. I used it for my team as an example of how to take a situation and use it in a positive way.