3 simple ways to manage awkward encounters

When faced with an uncomfortable situation at work, how do you make it through without embarrassing yourself or your colleague? Awkward encounters in the office happen to everyone and although it may seem like it’ll never end, there are things you can do to ensure no one’s feelings get hurt. Here are three ways you can easily manage a tricky work situation and move on to the next matter at hand.

Don’t be a ghost

You’re having a discussion with your colleagues and someone says something completely inappropriate. Sure, you feel really uncomfortable and your instinct is to get up immediately and walk away. But, unfortunately just “ghosting” (or trying to slip out unnoticed) will actually attract more attention to your discomfort. So, either stick it out or excuse yourself appropriately when the time is right.

Politely pivot

No matter what is being said or done to make the interaction difficult there is always a graceful way to pivot the conversation. When your colleague gets to a stopping point in the discussion, segue to a more relevant topic. Another great way to change gears is to inquiry about specific work experience. Ask questions such as, “How is it going with that new project?” to demonstrate your interest in more professional matters.

Grin and bear it

When you’re engaged in an awkward exchange, you may feel inclined to shut the conversation down. But, just as “ghosting” will draw unnecessary attention to you, so will cutting someone off or making a rude response in an attempt to move forward. Instead, sometimes it’s better to simply grin and bear it, as hard as that may seem. Resist the urge to fire back or make matters worse by saying something you’ll regret later. Let the discussion run into course and make an attempt in the future to not get trapped in the same way again.