How to Recover from a Faux Pas

Sometimes a faux pas can seem like the end of the world; but there are ways to recover. Don't let one mistake ruin your relationship or career. Listed below are some steps you can take to fix an awkward situation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Pretend nothing happened. If your accident wasn't something eye-catching, but rather a piece of dropped food or tripping in the hallway, it's best to just move on and avoid drawing attention to yourself.
2. Tell a joke. If you're certain everyone has noticed your faux pas, make a joke about it. Turning an embarrassing situation into a laugh will help ease the tension of the moment.
3. Apologize. Assuming your blunder is verbal, such as telling a horribly inappropriate joke, apologize and then move on. Do it quickly and try to change the topic afterwards.
4. Replace what you've ruined. Spilling wine on your host's tablecloth or dumping coffee on an intern both take more than an apology or joke to fix. In this case, take them aside, apologize profusely, and offer to replace or pay the dry cleaning bill for the ruined items.
5. Leave the room. Sometimes the only way to escape an awkward moment is to leave until you've collected yourself. That way, you have prevented the situation from becoming even more awkward.

Tips & Warnings

• Before going to a foreign country, take the time to learn it's cultural gaffes. Many African countries, for example, view handshakes with the left hand as offensive. Watch out for issues like these to avoid a faux pas in the first place.