Workplace Blushing And How To Deal With It

The good thing about workplace blushing is that the triggers are predictable, albeit stressful, situations. Speaking up at a meeting, or feeling singled out to answer on the spot questions from the front line can raise your skin tone along with your stress level. Or it may be socializing with co-workers outside your normal work duties, which can send even the most social little worker bee buzzing in retreat. Does anyone ever really enjoy the company Christmas party?

Practice Makes ...Poise?
Being predictable, you can plan for these dreaded moments. And practice for them. The key is to recognize that it isn't the situation that triggers your red faced reaction. It's your thoughts in response to the situation. Remembering to be patient with yourself, working to combat one negative thought at a time, you can use each opportunity to develop poise and self confidence. And cool that blush.

Negative thoughts or memories compound distress with that momentary flash of panic as plain as the, well, blush on your face. So why not try positive messages instead? Really think about it and identify what sends sweat pouring down your sides and causes your face to light up like Rudolph's nose. Then ask yourself, what am I thinking and feeling at those times? Is there a pattern. Focus on one event in particular. Feeling cornered, criticized, ostracized, or misunderstood can leave psychological wounds. That's why it's important to deal with that past event and make peace with it, by telling yourself the truth about it. And the truth always is: YOU DID THE BEST YOU COULD AT THAT TIME. Forgive the guilty parties and move on to create new possibilities.

The Arm Chair Quarterback
Okay, have you identified a pattern for your red faced reaction? Good. Now, close your eyes and put yourself mentally in that situation again. But this time answer or react the way you think in hindsight may have been better. Grab a notebook, and keep recording different responses until you find one that works.

Got one? Hold on to that clever well thought out response, and replay it in your mind. Write it down again, this time adding any stray thoughts as they enter your mind. They may be the angels of healthy instinct, they may be demons born of fear. But either way they're going to give you insight into overcoming that negative reaction. Was your arm chair quarterback response better? Chances are you learned there was no "good" answer.

Outside stress acting on a situation can make collateral damage of your self esteem. Feeling you were just not trained, prepared, or informed enough to have been expected to do better in today's downsized, pay cut world really is a common, everyday reality in every profession. It's okay to take a deep breath and be honest without assuming blame for policy.

The main thing is to remember to take your time to give the best response to a situation. The time it takes to take a deep breath can be all the time you need to cool that blush.