Best Ways to Fix Social Mistakes
How to Repair Common Etiquette Situations
Recovering from a mistake in manners or embarrassing situation is easy if you know in advance how to handle each dilemma. Here are seven tried and true methods to help.
Everyone makes an occasional faux pas (defined as "a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion," according to Random House's unabridged dictionary) from time to time. If you find yourself in one of these awkward situations, here is how to recover.
If you forget someone's name
Don't pretend you know, simply apologize for your momentary lapse of memory and ask them to remind you of their name. If you do remember some fact about the person, bring it up when you ask, for example, "I remember you from school, but your name is escaping at the moment".
Fail to remember to RSVP
RSVP is abbreviated French for "répondez s'il vous plaît" and simply means "Please respond."
If you neglect to, call the event's host as soon as you realize your error and apologize for missing their request. Indicate that you would still like to be included if your request isn't an inconvenience.
Forgetting a birthday or other important celebration
Cards that include "Belated" are acceptable, but a more personal note explaining the delay and included in an appropriate card is in better taste. Your extra effort appears even more sincere.
"Fashionably Late" can be rude
If you arrive at a party late, don't draw attention to your tardy arrival with explanations and apologies as soon as you arrive. Instead, wait until later in the event and when there is adequate time, apologize to your hosts with a brief summary of your tardiness. Studies show that people are more forgiving by lateness as a party progresses.
Answering a cellphone during a meal
Cellphone etiquette has a myriad of rules, but talking on a phone during a meal, at home or in a restaurant, is just plain rude. There are situations or an emergency in which a person might need to be available for a call; however, the phone should be set to silent or vibrate and never placed on the table. If you must answer a phone, excuse yourself from the table with apologies and go somewhere private to talk. Be as brief as possible.
E-mailing to an incorrect address
Everyone has, at one time or another, clicked on "send" and then realized the message they just sent went to the wrong person or place. While it may be embarrassing, it's not the end of the world. If at all possible, call the person that received the incorrect message and apologize. Your effort will be more sincere. If a phone call is not possible, follow up with a corrected e-mail apology.
The best rule of thumb to repair most social mistakes is to be honest, sincere and timely in your efforts.
