Hi everyone. I'm new to this group, and wanted to share a little bit about me, and how much this site has already helped me. I'm the contracts manager at a very small business (I'm also accounting manager and recently became HR manager - I also do recruiting and proposals). I work with several different overlapping teams every day within the company, and many outside clients. Much of what I do requires feedback from other members of my team(s) before I can move forward with my next steps. Often, my coworkers are very busy and unable to respond quickly, so I'm left with a client waiting for answers that I'm unable to provide right away. One of the first articles I read on the site discussed the fact that, as women, we tend to apologize for everything. "I'm sorry for the delayed response" or "I apologize for not getting back with you sooner", etc. Well I've stopped doing that. I've replaced both of those statements with "thanks for your patience!", and guess what? The replies to my emails have been more respectful and it has made me feel more confident. It may seem like a small adjustment, but it's really been fruitful! No more apologies, unless I truly mean it.