How to deal with embarrassments
The “oh crap” moments that make you cringe and how to deal with them
So what?
Embarrassments are inevitable. You will embarrass yourself no matter how old and wise you are. No one is immune from embarrassments. By learning how to deal with embarrassing moments, you will:
- Be more confident;
- Laugh about them;
- Not let them ruin your day; and
- Stop beating yourself up over them.
Embarrassments in your personal life
Embarrassing moments in your personal life happen in two folds. First is embarrassing yourself in front of your family and friends. Second is in front of strangers. Your family and friends will understand you and less likely to perceive your embarrassment as such compared to a stranger. On the other hand, you are more likely ignore your embarrassments in front of strangers despite these strangers will either laugh at you, feel bad for you or both. Nevertheless, below are ways that you can deal with these moments:
- Laugh at yourself. You will be relaxed or even forget your embarrassment by laughing at yourself, faking a smile or even forcing a giggle.
- Put things into perspective by reminiscing about past embarrassing moments. The one that recently occurred in will be much less embarrassing compared to your worst moments, in comparison.
- Be present as embarrassments are in the past. What’s happened has happened. Move on.
- Seek counselling. If it’s embarrassing enough to cause you trauma, distress and/or depression, you may need to seek counselling.
Embarrassments in workplace/business
No one is perfect, including you. You will make mistakes. What appears to be a nonissue for your family and friends can be an embarrassing moment to your colleagues, boss, customers or clients. In these cases, try the techniques below. Note that these are outward actions as opposed to inward techniques per above. They can be used in conjunction with the above techniques.
- Communicate with your client / customer by letting them know how embarrassed you are and how you will make up for your mistakes.
- Kill them with kindness (and honesty). Profusely apologise, own up to your mistake and thank them for their understanding. And explain to them what happened.
- Ask how you can make it up to them. Offer them solutions and seek ways to make up for your mistakes and shortcomings.
- Implement procedures to minis the risk of it happening again.
My experience
Several years ago, I called a client by a wrong name. What was worst was that it was in front of her colleagues or junior team members. She didn’t take it well at the meeting. I profusely apologised and bought her coffee after our meeting. She is still a client to this day. Since then, I make sure to look at the calendar entry before every meeting and repeat the name(s) of the person(s) that I’m meeting with 5 times.
What now?
- Bookmark this page.
- Come back to it the next time you have an embarrassing moment.