Recently I wrote about how holiday parties can be a good way to keep your job seach moving forward during the holidays. The winners of a Office Holiday Party Regrets essay contest had some interesting stories to tell and some embarrassing situations to deal with after their big events. While these stories make good reading, they are surely situations you want to avoid.
However, things happen, and if you do find yourself in similarly awkward situation, here are some damage-control suggestions.
First of all, keep in mind that you are not the only person who has made a mistake or said something inappropriate at some point. Time does seem to heal embarrassing situations. You may not forget the incident, but there’s a good chance that over time, your colleagues will move on to business as usual.
It’s important that you forgive yourself and learn from the incident. Over the next several months it would be wise to stay on the conservative side of behavior and be extra cautious about what you say. Develop an awareness of the people around you.
Once you have apologized for the incident, you may want to send a heartfelt note of regret. After that, let it go and refrain from apologizing repeatedly. The more you verbalize your regret, the longer the incident stays fresh.
Everyone makes mistakes. It is important to pick yourself up and move forward at work, focusing on adding value to daily business needs.
Those around you, including your boss, will be watching how you handle an embarrassing situation and the finesse you show moving forward can be seen as one of your strengths.
