Should I Apologize for Yelling At an Employee?

learn more about Penny Morey

By Penny Morey

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The other day was very intense and stressful, and an incident arose that led me to yell at an ordinarily productive employee. In fact, this employee is one of my superstars. Although I felt at the time that I was in the right, it may negatively affect our working relationship in the future. When does a well-deserved reprimand from a boss cross over into inappropriately reaming someone out?

We all know that we are supposed to "praise in public and reprimand in private," but we are also human beings. And there are times ... ah, there are times ... when doing that can be extremely difficult. However, it sounds to me from what you have said that you may have embarrassed a good employee in front of his co-workers, maybe even his staff.

If you are thinking about this situation and brooding about how you behaved, the chances are that you should apologize. We all raise our voices from time to time; sometimes we say things that we later regret. The key ingredient that differentiates a leader and which takes him to a higher level -- deserving of more respect -- is his willingness to admit when something that he said or did was not exactly at the level of professionalism or courtesy that he expects of himself and from others on the team. It goes a long way when someone says that she recognizes her own less-than-perfect behavior and says that she will genuinely strive not to repeat it in the future.

You set the tone for this workplace. If you make it seem okay to yell at one another, it may become the norm more often than the exception. And, for a myriad of excellent reasons, I doubt that you want that to be the case. People want to work where they are appreciated and respected. That is just the way it is. The most talented people will not tolerate less; and I am sure that the most talented people are the ones you want on your team.

Penny Morey

Penny is a seasoned human resources executive and consultant with over 25 years of diverse business experience in advising enterprise leaders on employment-related matters.

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

I Live on a Cruise Ship for Half of the Year. Look Inside My 336-Square-Foot Cabin with Wraparound Balcony.

I live on a cruise ship with my husband, who works on it, for six months out of the year. Life at "home" can be tight. Here's what it's really like living on a cruise ship.

Thought Leaders

The Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Cautionary Tale of Resistance to Hybrid Work

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce's needs and preferences.

Business Solutions

Learn to Build a ChatGPT Bot for Only $30

If you want to see what AI can do for your business, grab this course bundle today.

Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Health & Wellness

5 Essential Steps to Expand Your Vision and Start Living Your Dream Life

It's time to break free from your comfort zone and expand your vision. When you refuse to settle for a mediocre life, you can start building a life you love.