By
eHow Relationships & Family Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Accept responsibility. Admitting that you made a mistake and indicating to others that you know you are to blame makes people accepting of your apology.
Step2
Apologize to the people you offended. Be genuine and forthright. Without going into detail, explain the reason you made the mistake and reassure the person it won't happen again.
Step3
Make things right, if possible. Take any opportunity to reverse the effects of your mistake. You cannot erase the mistake you made, but striving to improve or return the situation to normal is crucial to making amends.
Step4
Back off. Some people feel wounded when they are the victim of a mistake. Pushing for acceptance of your apology may leave them resentful. Give them time to recover and re-establish trust.
Step5
Offer your assistance with new projects and activities. Approach the person you have hurt humbly and listen carefully to their reactions. Prove through your actions that you have learned a lesson.
Step6
Regain a sense of normalcy in your relationship. The other person's demeanor and body language indicates when you've made satisfactorily amends. Move forward and put the incident behind you.