The ability to apologize is serious business with serious benefits for the apologizer. It’s not just about being nice. In Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust (Berret-Koehler, 2009), John Kador demonstrates that the willingness to apologize is now perceived as a critical test that all leaders must confront. In this July 2009 book talk, Kador describes how leaders of public, nonprofit and private organizations who apologize signal strength of character, accountability, and humility. There is also discussion of how an apology can be a critical part of making difficult situations right while also allowing people or communities to move forward.