Answer:
It can feel terrible when you unintentionally offend someone. It can happen in marriage, with friends, or at work. It can even happen with people we don’t know well. It happens to everyone at some point or another.
None of us want to be responsible for someone feeling hurt or angry. Handled poorly, it creates conflict, guilt, or ill-will for both people involved. However, if you can use kindness and healthy communication, your mistakes may have the remarkable potential to strengthen your relationship, particularly if you are able to be gracious and respectful in your approach.
What can you do if you offend someone?
Don’t respond emotionally in return
Staying calm is one of the most important things that you can do. If you get defensive, or fight back, it will only escalate the conflict and make things worse. Don’t blame the other person, and don’t tell the other person that they are “over-reacting” or “too sensitive.” Take a breath and let your body relax.
Although tempting to some, do not ignore the offended person
Many times, our human instincts tell us to avoid things that are difficult or unpleasant. However, research tells us that the more we avoid conflict, the worse it gets. If you ignore the person’s feelings, it can breed continued discomfort and awkwardness. It can also make it more difficult for both of you to move on.
Consider your words
Take responsibility for what you said, and consider the feelings of the other person. Most likely, if the other person is offended, they have some emotional sensitivity to what you said (or what they thought you said). For example, although you may have been offering help or assistance, the other person may have thought that you were criticizing their work. Or in another example, you may have thought what you said was witty, but the other person thought you were putting them down. It will be important for you to consider the other person’s feelings and consider how they may have heard your message.
