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Agreed with the above. Short. Clear. Concise. Take ownership but don’t make it a drama.
“Thanks for your patience.”
YAS, OC1! I recently realized this on my own when I was going to say, "I'm not going to lie," and realized how terrible that sounded. I changed it to "to be perfectly honest." This made a new wrinkle in my brain. I have been using your method since.
With apologies for the delay, attached please find blah blah blah.
My apologies for the delay. (Resist the urge to overexplain)
Recently learned over explaining is perceived as dishonesty by neurotypicals. I often write a four paragraph email that turns into two sentences before it's sent...
My bad
Preemptively, if at all possible. More important to promptly communicate status than to apologize. Agree with the above for the actual apology— short and simple without over-explaining.
Isn’t this what chat gpt is for?
The wording, which I think above advice covers, matters much less than the timing. Sending an email before you miss the deadline, whenever you realize you’re going to miss it, is obviously better.
You know how super cooled -- but super pure water -- won't freeze until you agitate it -- either form a bubble or drop a spec of sand in it -- and then it freezes all at once?
Don't let anything ever become that agitation. "Thank you for your patience." If you add apologies or any sign of weakness -- they might take the whole day's frustrations on you all at once.
Pro
Pick up the phone
Pro
Yup. And as others have said, the contact needs to happen WELL in advance of the deadline (exceptions permitted if you’ve been incarcerated or in a coma).
A phone call with a clear and firm delivery timeline. I don’t like apology emails. My inbox is too full. If it’s an email, it better be the assignment.
It may feel natural as a guy to say “my bad” to the cool partners that you are close with when you make a mistake, but that pisses them off (even if a minor mistake). Always say my apologies - goes a long way
I don’t apologize unless I’m very late
If in advance, warn and apologize. If after the fact, take responsibility, apologize, and say you will communicate better next time. Don’t come across as making excuses or not taking full responsibility.
Forgive me I
Agree on the early warning. How you word it depends on what the ramifications of the missed deadline were. If there was a negative impact, it’s imperative to identify it and to offer to do what you can to fix it.
Start looking for another job
Don’t apologize. It’s a sign of weakness.
I do hope you're joking.
Apologies for the delay
“Honey I’m sorry but how am I supposed to know it’s been 20 years? It’s felt like 40.”