15 Psychological tricks to avoid embarrassing situations

Are you able to “read” a person? Do you know if, in a conversation, your interlocutor is trying to get some information from you or intimidate you? Can you identify someone who is following you? Or even assert your opinion in a discussion? Well, we know that interpreting what others are telling us with our bodies is an advantage in most situations.

At the awesome.club We’ve put together useful tricks to help you “get” the atmosphere better than anyone else and escape embarrassment in the most elegant way possible.

Since there’s no really polite way to tell people to shut up, you can try the following trick to interrupt the conversation: just drop whatever you have in your hand — except maybe your cell phone — or drop something “accidentally”. This will attract the attention of your interlocutor, making them feel uncomfortable, which will probably make them stop talking.

When you’re eating, your brain thinks everything is fine. After all, you have time to eat. So chewing gum is a way to trick your brain into a relaxed state. You can use this trick during a tense conversation, before interviews, or even during stressful moments.

It is always difficult to deal with an angry customer. So a simple trick for shop owners, for example, is to put mirrors behind and around the counter, so people can see each other during the discussion. We don’t like to see ourselves that way, because we don’t like angry people either. So this will help calm them down, creating a space for sensible conversation.

It could be a commercial jingle, a chart song, or even a song you love. These melodies find their way to “stick” in your brain and, without realizing it, you start humming and “hear” them in your head all the time. Try to finish the song as your brain will think the song is over and you will be able to get it out of your head.

When you need to trade with someone, especially for business purposes, this trick will come in handy. Stand next to the person instead of facing them. This will make her feel like you’re on the same side — even from an opinion point of view. Also, it’s weird to get angry or yell at someone who is physically so close.

Sometimes the best thing to do is to acknowledge the embarrassment experienced in a situation. If you’re in a new group of people, you can break the ice by saying what you thought was weird. Using humor will also help. For example, making a joke about the silence in the room or admitting how funny your mistake in speaking was.

If you want people to drink a certain type of drink (or drinks from a certain brand), keep in mind that we generally follow the pattern of behavior of those who initiate a certain process. If you are the first to order a drink and opt for a red wine, for example, it is very likely that the other members of the group will do the same. Also, having been the first, you may not have to buy more.

When joining a new group, it’s normal to be unsure of what others think of you. However, you can find this out by paying attention to body language. If they are interested in you, their feet will point towards you instead of just their head. This works for both discovering a crush and for social gatherings.

Even if someone is yelling at you, stay calm and speak softly to voice your opinion. When you feel that the other person is not responding and speaking out loud, wait and keep your voice calm. After a while, your approach will likely influence the other person, who will stop yelling.

A lot of people tend to get tangled up with answers that, for them, are complicated or irritating. And it is possible that, in these situations, your interlocutor takes time to get to the point. But don’t let the silence make you give up. Be silent, look the person in the eye, and let them continue talking. You will eventually get your answer.

First dates can be awkward if you don’t have a plan for dealing with them. To avoid this type of situation, go with the person to an event or “exciting program”. The type of activity you choose should, of course, depend on the other person’s personal preference. The fact is that the person will associate the emotion with you and will feel that they are enjoying spending time with you.

You can catch someone lying or stalling when talking about an issue to avoid confrontation. If you need the person to confess something or share more information, raise your eyebrows, maintaining eye contact to build up the pressure. This will make you feel psychologically weaker and tell the truth.

If you’re feeling watched or noticed that you’re being followed, take a simple test: yawn! Check the reaction of others. If a person is watching you, they will also yawn.

Don’t ask children if they want to do something. Just give them options to choose from, without creating too much fuss. For example, if you want them to eat broccoli, try asking if they want 2 or 3 servings. Although they may resist, they are likely to make an “adult” decision and feel responsible in the end.

Cleverly running away from a fight is almost always better than getting into a conflict. If someone is being teased, use the power of eye contact. Look into the eyes, hold steady and move your gaze, following to the person’s feet and then look back into the person’s eyes. Then look away. This will send the message to the other person that you have evaluated him/her and that you believe he/she is not a threat to you.

Do you have your own tricks? Share with the community of awesome.club in the comments!