Awkward situations…

…and how to handle them.

Embarrassments in the job – they can really make you sweat. But with the right knowledge and a feeling for situations, unpleasant situations can be avoided.

“So, when are you due?”

This question, looking at the round belly of a female colleague, is extremly embarassing when the lady isn’t pregnant and has “only” put on some weight recently. In order to avoid this clanger, remember never to make someone’s physique the topic of a remark – especially not in your job! Once the question has left your tongue, you can’t make it undone anymore. But if it already has happened, make a short but honest excuse. Don’t broach the issue any further as that would make things even worse.

Open zippers.

No matter if it’s your skirt or your pants – an open zipper is always embarrassing. Obey the easy rule: Women should give a discreet hint to their female colleagues, males to their male colleagues. Say somthing like “You’re not quite complete there” and try to briefly look at the spot, but don’t point with your finger. If you’re the “incompletely” dressed person, say thank you, fix the little problem somewhere not so public and don’t further talk about it.

Food in the face.

Parsley in your teeth, tomato sauce in the beard or residue from blowing your nose on your chin – imagine yourself in a very important situation, maybe a job interview… Whatever it is, make sure to make your colleague or business partner aware in a discreet way so as to allow your counterpart to clean himself up in the restroom or with a napkin and to make sure this problem is gone. How terrible to imagine the person coming home after work and, at the first glance in the mirror, realizing he had been running around like this in the office for hours…

Stained Business Shirt

The knocked-over coffee cup

No matter if it’s a wine glass or cookie jar – during a business dinner, a lot of things can be in harm’s way. But what do you do when it has actually happened and you have soaked the table cloth with your coffee? If it’s a minor mishap such as this, apologize and quickly use a few napkins to clean it up. However, if your wine is now on your neighbor’s suit or costume, don’t touch the person. Apologize first and offer your assistance, e.g. by saying that you will cover the dry cleaning or, if this doesn’t help anymore, to get a replacement. And, therefore, if it was a € 2,000 suit, then you better have an insurance covering the damage.

Stains on clothes

You know the situation: A meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M., and right over lunch you spill salad sauce on your shirt or blouse. For situations as such, you should be prepared and have a substitute in your office. If you don’t, open the meeting with a little remark on your mishap and make a little joke about it. If it’s your colleague’s shirt that has the stain, you can inform him in a discreet way, maybe there’s a possibility to cover it up with the jacket. At any rate, don’t make somebody aware of the problem whom you are not familiar with, e.g. when it’s a business parter or a client of yours.