Oops, you just made a career limiting move and said something that maybe you shouldn't have at work to someone who out ranks you. In fact, you can still see it in the air bubble above your head. If only you could burst that bubble with a pin and take it all back. But too late, you can't. What's done is done. Now you need to recover. Sometimes it's best to just let it go and come back to it another time when emotions are less tense. Give it a few days for the dust to settle and then approach humbly and ready with an apology in hand.
Or you could always take the cowardice way out and pretend it never happened or that they didn't hear you. This is not recommended. Chances are they probably heard you and either didn't comment because they didn't want to engage in the discussion at the time or because they are willing to overlook it, but they won't forget it. Apology is always the best way to go if you don't want to limit your career.
However, sometimes you say things that seem totally normal to you. Yet someone was offended and next thing you know, you feel like you were called into the Principal’s office and find yourself being reprimanded by your boss telling you that you were out of line. You're either embarrassed because you knew it was wrong or peeved at whoever told on you. But in either case, if you want to continue working there you need to make sure that it doesn't happen again and you probably will need to apologize or rectify the situation in some way with whom you've offended. Ugh! If you could only keep your mouth shut sometimes.
How can you make sure it doesn't happen again? Well in most cases, if you'd say it to your mother or have it announced over a loudspeaker at work then you probably aren't crossing a line or offending anyone. But there is an exception to this where you need to be weary. Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we feel falsely "safe" and think its okay to give honest feedback. Do yourself a favor and know your audience. If it's your boss or an exec, can they take criticism well? Will your comment further the conversation? If not, keep your comment to yourself. If you don't know how they'll take feedback, then definitely keep your comment to yourself. And if it won’t further the discussion in a positive way, keep it to yourself.
The same holds true if you go to lunch with co-workers. You feel like you are all buddies going out to lunch but you never know. It pays to be mindful of what you say in a crowd. One of those people just might become your boss someday.
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