Have you ever had a conversation with a friend where the two of you were really connecting, laughing and joking and suddenly you said something that has halted the laughter and caught her off guard? You know what came next…that awkward silence that made the two of you want nothing more than to rush through the nearest exit. We all have experienced this before. However, running from the situation may not be the best response. You may want to address the comment or experience before leaving. Why? You don’t want to walk away with negative space between the two of you.
Awkward situatitions that are not managed can lead to unnecessary silence that lasts for weeks or worse both of you may spend time thinking of negative scenarios in your mind that do not exist. Many relationships have become broken from an akward experience. When too much time passes, imaginations have the tendency to run wild. If the relationship is important to you take the time to explain yourself. If the awkward situation occured with an aquaintance or a potential business connection, you do not want a slip of the tongue to completely damage your character or reputation.
Regroup, gather your thoughts, and quickly bounce back. You can turn an akward situation into a positive outcome by how you respond. Your response is crucial.
