A conversation can go off course even when the concern behind it is valid. Start a repair by identifying your own action: interrupting, raising your voice, making an assumption, or dismissing an answer. A specific acknowledgment is easier to trust than “Sorry if you were offended,” which leaves the responsibility unclear.

Try: “I interrupted you before you finished explaining the delay. That was not fair. I would like to hear what I missed.” Avoid attaching an immediate justification that cancels the acknowledgment. The other person may need time before they are ready to respond; an apology does not create an obligation to reassure you.

Repairing your approach does not require withdrawing a reasonable expectation. Once you have listened, return to the work: “We still need a date for the draft. What is realistic now?” The guide to accountability without blame can help separate the practical agreement from the tension around it.

End with the change you will make, then demonstrate it in the next interaction. If you were told that your approach felt dismissive, revisit how to receive feedback before following up. Trust may take more than one conversation to recover, so avoid treating the repair as a request for instant closure.