A well-considered and well placed apology can accomplish amazing things. Working is all about relationships. You must appeal to and treat a co-worker or subordinate as a human being first and foremost. Once you have done that, they will be loyal and productive. I practiced that mantra as a manager and director for a team of 35 high performing professionals and had great success. Relationships; It means praising, encouraging and yes, even sometimes apologizing. A well placed apology will make a person strong - not weak.