Poll: Apologizing Correlates with Higher Earnings

Diamonds may be forever, but saying "I'm sorry" is a pearl of wisdom high wage earners recognize at higher rates than those with lower incomes. A recent Zogby poll that found Americans earning more than $100,000 per year are almost twice as likely to apologize after an argument with a significant other as those earning less than $25,000.

The poll asked participants if they would apologize after an argument with their significant other, in three different situations: when they felt they were to blame, partly to blame, or blameless. In each situation, an individual's willingness to apologize was a predictor of their place on the pay ladder: 92 percent of earners making at least $100,000 apologize when they were to blame versus 52 percent of those earning less than $25,000. Even when they felt blameless, 22 percent of the highest earners would say sorry, compared to just 13 percent of the lowest earners.

The study of 7,590 Americans found a clear correlation between how much people earned and how often they apologized, and not just to their significant other. The rate of apologizing inched steadily downward as income level declined.

According to co-author of the book, Business Coaching: Achieving Practical Results Through Effective Engagement, Peter Shaw, admitting a mistake is a positive sign. In the press release Shaw said, "This shows that successful people are willing to learn from their mistakes and keen to mend relationships." Higher earners recognize that accepting error makes co-workers and employers feel better about the actual incident and the person's long-term sincerity, and that admitting a mistake is not a bad career move or sign of weakness.

While possibly true, Terry Shepherd, President of Pearl Outlet.com and commissioner of the poll, has his own theory. In the release Shepherd said, "Maybe higher-earners apologize more because, as someone once said, it's easier to apologize afterwards than to ask permission beforehand - and high-earners ask permission less. If you want a pay-rise, learn to say sorry."

The poll indicates that "I'm sorry" is one more business tool. While making more money is probably not as simple as saying "I'm sorry," it doesn't hurt, and is a good technique for repairing and maintaining both professional and personal relationships.

The Zogby poll was commissioned by The Pearl Outlet.com after the Washington state-business recognized that a growing number of customers were buying pearls as a token of their sincere apology.

Source:

PRNewsWire