4 Awkward Moments at Work and What to Do About Them
Awkward...
Awkward...
Falling up the stairs.
Waving at someone who waved at someone behind you.
Responding “You too” when the waiter says, “Enjoy your meal.”
Awkward moments are just a part of life. Like death and taxes, we all experience them. Some of the most common awkward moments happen at work. There are tips and tricks you can use to minimize and endure your awkward moments. With that in mind, here are 4 ways to cope with some common awkward workplace moments.
Awkward Moment #1: A coworker knows you, but you don’t know them.
No matter the size of your company or team, this is one of the most common awkward work moments. There is nothing more awkward than having a conversation with a coworker who definitely knows who you are but who you definitely don’t know. Here are a few ways to pacify this awkward moment:
First, just be polite. If you don’t know their name, ask them! If they told you once before and you don’t remember, apologize and ask them again. They’d likely much rather tell you a second time before it gets even more awkward. (And this time, figure out a way to remember their name because let’s be honest - asking a third time seems a bit frustrating for everyone involved.)
What if it’s too late? What if too much time has passed and there have been too many hallway conversations to ask them to their face? You could still ask around and find out or get sleuth-y with it: Zoom participant name list (pay attention to who’s speaking!), other teammates, the Slack or email directory - are just a few resources that might have the information you need.
On the other side of this coin, if you know a coworker but they don’t know you, simply reintroduce yourself. It’s not a big deal, and it’ll get ahead of a prolonged awkwardness.
Awkward Moment #2: You're leading this morning’s meeting, and you didn’t know it.
This awkward moment might be one of the most annoying because it’s a result of miscommunication and can be more easily avoided.
First, stay calm. The meeting is starting, and you don’t have time to panic. Second, simply summarize the purpose of the topic being discussed and update everyone on its progress as far as you know. Call on your manager and/or team members involved who can shed light on areas you’re not as familiar with. Finally, open the floor to questions.
It can be sweet and simple. The enemy of composure when you’re caught off guard is usually grounded in a desire to be perceived as having all the answers; which likely isn’t even an expectation of your audience in that moment anyway. Afterwards, you can approach your boss and relay your concerns about being put on the spot.
And remember - it’s possible they thought they emailed you or that you had the necessary information or… that you did in fact miss the request. Either way, approach the conversation with curiosity and a desire to figure out a better way to communicate together next time.
Awkward Moment #3: A coworker accuses you of being a generational stereotype.
We’ve all heard it before. Millennials are entitled, Boomers are out of touch, and Gen Z cancels everything. The generation gap brings more than a few awkward moments, but the number one awkward moment is being falsely accused of being a generational stereotype.
As in most situations in which you’re accused of something that isn’t true, you have two options. You can exercise self-discipline and let it go. Nelson Mandela said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” Some people are good at letting others’ assumptions and opinions roll off their shoulders.
On the other hand, others might correct a false accusation in the moment. They might say something like, “What you said is considered a generational stereotype, and I just want you to know that what you said is not true about me, personally.”
Accusing coworkers of being generational stereotypes goes both ways. Keep in mind that assumptions are one of the biggest contributing factors to workplace tension and conflict, so if you find yourself making them, go on an assumption-checking tour and get to know your coworkers for who they really are: multifaceted human beings.
Awkward Moment #4: You send or receive an email or chat that wasn’t intended for you.
The last two years have seen an increase of accidental “oops, wrong person” chats or texts. When you send a personal chat to a coworker or worse - your entire office - here are some steps to remedy the awkwardness:
If it’s a simple wrong email address, no biggie. Simply follow up with an apology or add “Please disregard” to a reply email.
If you were harsh toward a leadership decision or made a rude remark towards a coworker, own it and apologize to the parties involved. Whether you were correct in your evaluation of the event, you were wrong to spread information outside the proper channels or addressing the individual directly - especially if you have a working relationship with them. If your office doesn’t have proper channels for funneling feedback, share suggestions to leadership about implementing those channels.
The best general rule when it comes to coping with awkward moments? Embrace them and learn from them. Since they happen to everyone, it’s important that you not overreact or try to overcompensate. Many awkward moments become the pivots that establish lifelong personal and work relationships.