I sent a sharp reply to the whole team. Should the apology go to everyone too?
Career / WorkMy email began, “As I already explained twice…” I pressed send to the whole project group.
The colleague I was answering had asked which delivery date we were using. I was annoyed because I thought the answer was in the thread. Afterward, I checked and saw that the latest date was buried in an attachment, not the message I’d referred her to.
I sent her a private apology. She replied, “Thanks. I just needed the date.” I’ve also posted the clear delivery date in the project thread. I didn’t acknowledge my tone there.
Now I’m wondering whether the group still sees her as the person who failed to read and me as the person entitled to snap. A second email might repair that impression, or might drag her into an apology she didn’t ask to have performed in public.
Would you make a brief correction to the group, ask her first, or leave it with the private apology and clear information?