You hooked up with a friend or a colleague at a party. Now what?

With a friend

The next morning, calmly get dressed and leave. “This shows you’re confident and in control of the situation,” says psychologist Daniel Koh of Insights Mind Centre. “Rushing out flustered can damage your self-esteem and image.”

Tell him you’ll discuss last night when you’re both more settled. “Delaying this gives both of you time to calm down and think things through rationally,” Daniel says.

Figure out why you slept with him. Do you like him and want a relationship? Or was it just a drunken mistake?

Discuss how you both should move forward. Be calm and rational. “If you want something more but he doesn’t, respect that and back off,” says life coach Stephanie Chu of coaching firm Empower.

With a co-worker

Humour helps defuse awkward situations, says clinical psychologist Dr Vanessa von Auer of VA Psychology Centre. “A one-liner like, ‘you should be glad I’m only your colleague, not your boss’ should do the trick.”

Chat about how you both want to move forward. Always maintain a civil and cordial work relationship.

There’s a risk that the guy may blab and “glorify his conquest”, warns May Sng, director of recruitment firm Frontier Executive Search. Minimise the damage – don’t mention your tryst in e-mails or SMSes, which could be leaked and used against you.

You’re not obliged to address office rumours. “What happens outside the office can stay outside,” says Stephanie. Tell rumour-mongers that you don’t like to be gossiped about and that you find it unprofessional.

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