You know the situation , you are at a works function and the CEO comes over to give a courtesy greeting. She says something that is regarding a current political issue, and you have no idea what she is talking about. What to do? If you agree you could be wrong, in her eyes, and if you laugh nervously you look like an idiot. Shuffling away , mumbling about going to the toilet doesn’t improve the chance of a promotion.

Not understanding can lead to embarrassment or discomfort and that in turn knocks our confidence. I have been put in this place on many occasions, surgeons or administrators chatting to me in the break room when all I wanted to do was eat my sandwich and read my kindle. My head was down when they came in…but oh hello, I need to tell you something.

My action as a younger person was to look like an idiot and just nod or smile, now as I grow older (and basically have stopped worrying about how people regard me) I stop the person and either tell them I am unfamiliar with their musings or ask them a question. Never rude to them, and I try to show interest, after all the conversation will only last until one of us has to leave.

To know , or not to know, is not a failing. We cannot all have the same degree of schooling or enthusiasm over a particular matter.

Recently I was having a video conversation with a wonderful older gent and he said something (I still cannot pronounce it) which I didn’t recognize. When I asked him what that was, he repeated it and then I must have looked blankly back at him as he repeated it even louder! I gave up and asked him what it meant and given the definition, I was familiar with the subject, just not the title given to it. Bear in mind, this man has to be the best read , most intelligent man in the world, and sadly I am not. (You know who you are xx)

The next time you are conversing with someone on a topic you are passionate about, either ask the person at the beginning of the subject if they are familiar with it , not if they like it, ( just throw it out there) and if they start nodding quietly or giggling like a nervous schoolgirl, talk about the weather until another willing listener happens upon you.

One last note. If you want to lessen your chances of disastrous yappings , try reading a newspaper at least every few days and the chance that you may know a little on the subject (or can steer it in a different direction) will be heightened. In this day and age , the internet is a click away and looking something up is a cinch.

So, how about that rain we had last night….?