let’s talk about times when you said the exact wrong thing at work

A reader writes:

I had an awkward moment the other day with a client and it made me think that others have probably made similar mistakes, and it could be fun to hear from everyone.

I’m a lawyer and working with a client preparing to testify about their innocence after being in jail for decades. I was in the prison working with him earlier this week, and he was doing really great work, and as feedback I kept telling him he was “killing it!” As in, “You’re killing it!” And, “Great job killing it!” Alison, he’s unfairly in jail for murder and has been his whole adult life. I know that, and yet for the life of me Could. Not. Stop. Saying. It.

In my subsequent reflection and shame, I realized others must have similar stories of just saying the absolute wrong thing to the wrong person at work. If you’re ever thinking of a call for stories, I bet these would be good!

By all means, let’s have at it in the comment section!

The post let’s talk about times when you said the exact wrong thing at work appeared first on Ask a Manager.

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