How to Kindly Tell Someone Embarrassing News or Potentially Offensive Information
by www.Sedona.com
You have bad breath. There’s a piece of spinach between your front teeth. You talk too much about yourself. There’s really no end to the amount of embarrassing and potentially offensive news you could one day find yourself on the giving end of.
Sometimes these things are best left unsaid. But others they must be shared, like it or not. And knowing how to do so with tact and grace can make the difference between your being smacked or embraced in return.
One thing to keep in mind, even if the information is embarrassing the person would probably want to know. Surveys conducted by The Emily Post Institute, for example, show overwhelmingly that if a person has bad breath or body odor, they want to be told about it. Ideally, the information would come from a friend rather than a boss, office worker or acquaintance.
Some tips according to The Emily Post Institute: “The key is for the friend to talk to the person privately, perhaps starting by saying if the roles were reversed he/she would hope the person would say something to them. Keep things positive, and remember that this will most likely come as a surprise to the individual -- they will most likely be sensitive about the topic, though hopefully thankful that you've brought it to their attention.”
Meanwhile, your own expectations about what you’re about to say will also influence how it is received.
“The very first step in sharing embarrassing or offensive information is to let go of your feelings about whatever it is you are about to say,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. “It is your feelings that cause you to communicate inappropriately or to have appropriate communications misinterpreted because of the feelings behind the communication. Once you release to completion you will find yourself naturally knowing what is the appropriate way to respond.”
So before you share anything potentially offensive, ask yourself the three questions that make up The Sedona Method to help you release your fears or anxiety about the conversation. Then proceed with sensitivity and always remember that if it were about you, you would probably want to know too.
Source
EmilyPost.com Week of January 30, 2006
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