(Lydia Dishman/FastCompany.com)- We’ve all witnessed this. A wince-worthy moment when someone (our boss, colleague, family member) opens their mouth just wide enough to insert a foot.

For those in the spotlight, the results can be disastrous. Fast Company has chronicled the cringe-inducing gaffes of Lululemon founder Chip Wilson who alienated legions of devotees with a single sentence. Then there was film director Michael Bay’s ignoble stride off stage after freezing up during a CES introduction.

On an average day, bumblings among coworkers may not bring about a precipitous drop in stock prices, but they have a cumulative effect which when compounded by our reactions could have serious consequences. That’s when communication consultant Geoffrey Tumlin says it’s smart to play dumb--as in: holding your own tongue.

Tumlin, author of the book Stop Talking, Start Communicating, says, “This strategy benefits you, the other person, and the underlying relationship.”

Not responding immediately allows the person you’re talking to a little time to self-correct a half-baked observation and prevents an otherwise working relationship from being damaged, he explains.

Not surprisingly, research shows that people with high emotional intelligence are good at self-regulating and helping others regulate emotions in interactions. If you’re still working on developing EI, fret not. Tumlin says anyone can learn to sit on their feelings in social settings. Tumlin suggests trying these strategies to maintain your own composure when your conversation partner is losing theirs...

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1. Short Fuses: 
We all know someone who goes from zero to pissed off in about four seconds. Refraining from yelling right back is a start, says Tumlin, but it’s important to stay quiet, too...

2. Venters:...

[Read more here at Fast Company.]