Face-saving Remedies for Awkward Work Situations

Face-saving Remedies for Awkward Work SituationsFace-saving Remedies for Awkward Work SituationsUse these tips for changing course and saving the interaction when aconversation takes an awkward turn.So, chairman, this must be your lovely new girlfriend ?Um, actually, shes my granddaughter.Oooops.Ever been in this situation? The one wzu siche youputyour foot so completely inside your mouth theresnowhere to go?We all have. The difference maker is how you respond to the flub. Here aresix face-saving antidotes to awkward situations.Never say, Well, this is awkward.All that does is increase the level of awkwardness. No need to bring any further attention to your blunder. Youve said enough. Avoid this phrase at all cost - otherwise you risk digging in deeper.Remember Everything is neutral until painted with the meaning you ascribe to it. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.Dont make things worse by magnifying the mess.Change the f ocus.Whether or not youre the cause of the awkward situation, always have a few go-to topics ready. And Im not talking about the clich, So, how about them Dodgers? or Boy, that economy really sucks, huh? Instead, find an interesting topic of discussion that has nothing to do with the current conversation. I suggest segueing with, Anyway, on a completely unrelated topic Are you an interesting enough partie to change the subject to a different topic at the drop of a hat?Self-deprecation helps.If you say something stupid, playfully admit your blunder. By honestly recognizing your humanness, people will (usually) forgive your mistake. For example, if you accidentally walk in on a private conversation between two co-workers discussing their intra-office affair - and the record scratches the instant you walk in the door - just say, Whoops I appear to have terrible timing.Are you willing to poke fun at yourself to save the situation?Remove yourself.If youre not comfortable in a certain s ituation, just say so. Heres how to remove yourself quietly and professionally from the simple, Will you excuse me, please? to Im not comfortable talking about this to the dramatic, OK, well, it appears the line has been crossed, and I need to excuse myself before my head explodes. Remember If you dont set boundaries for yourself, other people will set them for you. And then they will violate them.Are you willing to stand up for your boundaries?Fake a phone call.Sometimes people just keep talking. And talking. And talking. And theres nothing you can do to stop them. Very, very awkward. So, when all else fails, pretend like youre receiving an incoming call. Act like its an emergency and explain that you need to take it. People will understand. Just make sure you have a fake conversation on the phone for at least 30 seconds, and have a story ready to go for when they later ask you who called. Sure, its not the most authentic course of action, but you can only listen to your co-worker talk about her cats infected ear goiter for so long.Are you willing to walk away?Follow up if needed.If the awkwardness was especially thick, perhaps a quick email later that day will patch the scar. Hey Mary, look, I didnt mean to rush out of the room like that this morning. The mere mention of politics, religion and The Great Pumpkin always puts my stomach in knots. Hope you werent offended. Im happy to get together later and recap if theres anything I missed.How are you remedying your awkwardness?Remember Awkwardness is a choice.Consider these practices for saving your face, even when you fall flat on it.Let me ask ya thisWhat is your antidote for awkwardness?