How to apologise for missing a meeting (with examples!) 🙏-
Introduction 👋
Missing a meeting can be awkward – especially if you have forgotten to mention that you weren’t able to make it! 📆
If you miss a meeting with someone, it can leave them feeling:
- Confused 🥴
- Irritated
- Unimportant 🙅♀️
- Overlooked
- Disappointed 👎
- Concerned
As upsetting as it can be, missing a meeting happens to the best of us.
Whether it’s due to an emergency, a scheduling conflict, or simply a mistake, offering a sincere apology can help to mend any potential disruption. 🩹
To keep your relationship on good terms, and address the negative feelings they might’ve developed, it’s important to apologise quickly and in a sensitive way. ⌚
But how do you make such an apology? 🤷♀️
Today we’re explaining how to apologise for missing a meeting, providing plenty of examples for you to use. 🙏
🗺️ Note: If you’re from the USA, remember to use “recognize”, “realize” and “apologize” instead of the UK spellings below!
Different ways to apologise for missing a meeting 🙏
- ⚠️ When you had an emergency: “I’m very sorry I couldn’t make it to the meeting today. An emergency came up that I couldn’t avoid, and I couldn’t inform anyone in time. I’ll make it a priority to catch up on what I missed.”
- 🧠 When you simply forgot:“I apologise for missing the meeting today. I mistakenly overlooked it on my calendar, and I’m sorry for the oversight. Could you share any key points or action items with me?”
- 📆 When you’re overbooked:“I’m sorry for missing the meeting earlier. I had back-to-back appointments and didn’t leave enough time to join on time. I’ll make sure to plan my schedule better.”
- 💼 When other work got in the way:“Hi [Name], I apologise for missing today’s meeting. I was caught up with another work task that took longer than expected, and I couldn’t join on time. I’m sorry for any inconvenience this caused and would be grateful for any notes or action items I can review to catch up.”
- 🩺 Medical appointments: “Hi [Name], I wanted to apologise for missing the meeting today. I had a medical appointment that I couldn’t reschedule, and unfortunately, it ran over time. I’m sorry for missing the discussion and am ready to review any notes or meet to ensure I’m up to speed on what I missed.”
- 🔀 When you had another meeting overlap: “Hello [Name], I’m sorry I missed today’s meeting. I was double-booked with another meeting, and I wasn’t able to step away in time to join. I apologise for any inconvenience and would appreciate any key points or action items so I can stay on track. I’ll make sure my schedule is better coordinated going forward.”
Showing that you understand the impact on others👎
When apologising for missing a meeting, it helps to show that you’re aware of how your absence may have affected others. 🕵️♀️
Acknowledging the impact demonstrates empathy and respect for their time. ⌚
Whether it caused inconvenience, disrupted planning, or delayed decisions, recognizing these effects can make your apology feel more genuine. 💖
Here are some phrases to express your understanding of the impact your absence may have had:
- “I understand that my absence may have disrupted the flow of the meeting.”
- “I know my absence may have caused inconvenience, and I’m truly sorry for that.”
- “I realise that my missing the meeting meant others had to adjust, and I apologise for any extra work that created.”
- “I understand that not being there affected our team’s discussions and planning.”
- “I recognise that my absence meant I missed a chance to contribute, which may have held things up.”
- “I’m aware that my absence may have led to delays in decisions or left questions unanswered.”
- “I know that my missing the meeting could have sent the wrong message, and I want to reassure you of my commitment.”
- “I’m sorry if my absence impacted the team’s productivity or caused any frustration.”
Apology email example 📧
Subject: Sorry for Missing Today’s Meeting
Hi [Name/Team],
I wanted to apologise for missing the meeting today – I accidentally scheduled another commitment at the same time, and I’m sorry for any disruption my absence may have caused. I know these meetings are important, and I appreciate everyone’s time and effort.
If possible, could you share any notes or highlights from the meeting so I can catch up? I’m also more than willing to meet one-on-one if there’s anything I need to go over.
Thank you for understanding. I’ll be extra careful with my schedule to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Best,
[Your Name]
How to apologise if you’ve forgotten the meeting 🙏
1. Apologise straight away ⌚
As soon as you realise you missed the meeting, let the person or group know. This shows that you value their time and understand that your absence may have caused an inconvenience.
Example:
“Hi [Name], I just realised I missed our meeting today, and I wanted to apologise right away.”
2. Take responsibility 👐
It’s best to be straightforward and own up to missing the meeting. Avoid making excuses unless there’s an important reason. Being honest shows maturity and responsibility.
Example:
“I’m really sorry for not being there. I made a mistake with my schedule and didn’t realise I had double-booked myself.”
3. Show that you understand the impact 👎
Acknowledge that you understand the meeting was important and that you value others’ time. This shows that you care about the meeting and the people involved.
Example:
“I know everyone’s time is valuable, and I feel bad for missing out on the conversation and my chance to contribute.”
4. Offer to make it up 🎁
Offer to catch up or provide any information that may help. You could suggest a quick follow-up or ask for notes to get the key points you missed.
Example:
“If there’s a way I can catch up, please let me know. I’d be happy to review the notes or have a quick chat to make sure I’m up to speed.”
5. Promise to improve 📈
Reassure others that this was a one-time mistake and that you’ll be careful to prevent it in the future. Mentioning specific steps you’ll take can show you’re serious about it.
Example:
“I’ll make sure to double-check my schedule from now on to avoid any overlaps. Thanks for understanding, and I appreciate any updates from today.”
Conclusion 👍
So that’s it!
Hopefully this article has helped you to understand how you can apologise when you’ve missed a meeting.
If you know any friends or family members who would benefit from learning how to apologise for missing a meeting, share this post with them!
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