How to Navigate Awkward Conversations
To watch the extended YouTube version of this article, click here.
To listen to the audio version, click here.
We've all been there—saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, misreading a social cue, or simply finding ourselves in a conversation that feels painfully uncomfortable.
Awkward moments are an inevitable part of social interactions, but how we handle them can make all the difference in turning an embarrassing situation into a moment of grace, humour, or even deeper connection.
In today’s article, we’ll explore strategies for navigating awkward conversations. In the extended YouTube version, I also discuss how to recover from social blunders with poise and confidence. You can watch it here.
Understanding Social Awkwardness
Awkwardness often stems from uncertainty, mismatched expectations, or unintentional breaches of social norms. Some common sources include:
By understanding where awkwardness comes from, we can learn to anticipate and mitigate these situations more effectively.
Strategies For Navigating Awkward Conversations
1. Stay Present and Composed
When faced with an awkward moment, resist the urge to panic. Breathe deeply and remind yourself that most people are more focused on themselves than on analysing your every word. Confidence and calmness can often smooth over a potentially uncomfortable situation.
2. Use Humour to Diffuse Tension
A well-placed joke or a bit of self-deprecating humour can lighten the mood. For example, if you forget someone’s name in a conversation, you might say, “I have a memory like a sieve sometimes—please remind me of your name!” This acknowledges the mistake while keeping the mood light-hearted.
3. Listen More Than You Speak
If you sense that a conversation is taking an awkward turn, shift the focus to the other person. Ask an open-ended question and show genuine interest in their response. People generally enjoy talking about themselves, and this can steer the conversation into more comfortable territory.
This is a top tip I use when I’m teaching networking skills. Always make it about the other person. It takes the pressure off you. Getting curious about the other person is the key here.
4. Acknowledge the Awkwardness
Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to address the elephant in the room. A simple, “Well, that was an awkward moment!” can show self-awareness and help reset the conversation.
5. Use Nonverbal Cues
Your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice often communicate more than your words. Maintain good eye contact (as far as possible – I know that can be more difficult for neurodivergent people, especially those who lean more toward autism), smile reassuringly, and use open gestures to project warmth and ease.
6. Redirect the Conversation
If a topic is making someone uncomfortable, gracefully pivot to another subject. A phrase like, “That’s an interesting perspective! Speaking of which, have you seen any good movies lately?” can create a natural transition (as long as the topic you pivot to isn't too dissimilar from the current one!).
It’s also OK to say, “I think we need to agree to disagree on this one!”. Sometimes, you can have opposing views to someone else, and that’s OK. If they want to escalate the situation, attempting to get a rise out of you (see When People are Committed to Misunderstanding You below), it’s OK to use this phrase.
7. Embrace Silence
Not every moment in a conversation needs to be filled with words (or filled by you!). Learning to sit comfortably with silence allows for a more natural rhythm in discussions and prevents the need for forced or awkward filler talk.
When People are Committed to Misunderstanding You
I had a situation recently when someone totally misunderstood what I was saying and made several attempts in a group setting to goad me into an argument. I will not be coerced into an argument, especially in a group setting!
Arguing with people committed to misunderstanding you is exhausting, frustrating, and often fruitless. It drains your energy, chips away at your emotional well-being, and rarely leads to any meaningful resolution.
To be honest, I was pretty shaken after the encounter. In 36 years of giving presentations and delivering training to tens of thousands of people, I can honestly say it’s never happened before, and the aftereffects stayed with me for a while. However, I did what I always do when a situation happens that I don’t fully understand… I researched the heck out of it.
Through my research, I discovered that some people are committed to misunderstanding us, whether their misunderstanding stems from defensiveness, cognitive bias, lack of empathy, avoidance, a desire to manipulate, or projection of their own issues.
I have an entire video on how to deal with this issue if it resonates with you. You can watch it here.
The Wrap-up
Awkward conversations and social blunders are a normal part of life. The key is to handle them with confidence, self-awareness, and humour.
By practicing active listening, using humour to diffuse tension, and learning from past experiences, we can navigate social situations with greater ease.
At the end of the day, people remember how you make them feel far more than any minor misstep. If you approach interactions with warmth and sincerity, you’ll build stronger connections and feel more comfortable in any social setting.
Furthermore, if someone does try to make you feel bad about yourself for something you’ve said or done, especially when you did it in error, after you've apologised, or they try to goad you into an argument if there's nothing to apologise for, the issue likely lies with them.
For more on psychological projection (when people project their own subconscious issues onto others, I recommend my video, 087 - What is Psychological PROJECTION and How to Spot It).
Finally, the next time you find yourself in an awkward conversation or stumbling over your words, take a deep breath, smile, and remember—you’ve got this!
What Next?
Again, in the extended YouTube version of this article, I also discuss how to recover from social blunders. You can watch it here.
If there are any subjects you’d like me to cover in upcoming content or if you'd like coaching support with anything I discuss in my videos or articles, please DM or email me at [email protected].
However, recently, I've received many emails and DMs from people asking for my views on their personal/professional situations. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, I can't provide individual advice unless you are a client.
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As always, thanks for your support.
great points and message