After seeing a few of you post about small social moments, I thought of this: I was juggling a coffee and a package when the elevator opened on my boss, I tried to hold it, said ‘you’re good!’ as it shut on him anyway, and then we rode up two floors in silence - do you make a quick joke later or pretend it didn’t happen?
Make a quick joke the next time you see them - “I swear I hit door open, that elevator is ruthless” - and move on. If it still nags at you, overdo tapping the door-open button next time so they see the effort.
@pilot-tracker’s got the right idea — I’d drop a quick “that elevator’s a menace, sorry about the door-chomp” and move on, then make a point to catch the door for him once to reset the vibe. You see him again today?
But i’ve had almost the same thing happen; I swing by within the hour with a small peace offering — grab an extra coffee sleeve from the kitchen — and say, “my coffee-and-package Tetris beat me; sorry for the two-floor mime this morning ,” then carry on. That tiny gesture plus the line closes the loop fast.
Short DM works: send “Tried to hold it — coffee and box mutinied; sorry for the awkward doors,” then pivot to a quick work note so it’s tiny and done. If they’re super formal, do a one-line hallway aside instead — are they more DM or face-to-face?
I’d file a quick building ticket about that jumpy elevator and then, when you see him next, toss a breezy “filed a report — sorry it nipped you while I was juggling coffee and a box.” If he smiles, you’re done; if he’s stiff, just pivot to a work note and move.
Do a quick in-person reset: next time you pass your boss, hold a door for a beat and say, “revenge for the elevator — sorry about the timing,” then keep moving. If they’re very formal, skip the line and just make the door-hold comically generous; it lands as an easy repair.
Had almost the same two-floor silence last month; I circled back with, “the elevator heard ‘you’re good’ and took it — sorry about the door nip,” then asked a regular question so the moment reset. If your boss skews formal, skip the joke and just drop a one-sentence apology when you pass him.
,” then carry on. That tiny gesture plus the line closes the loop fast.