Alastair Wallace explains why managers avoid telling an employee their body odour is a problem, and how ignoring it creates gossip and workplace tension. He provides a script for having the conversation privately and respectfully, framing it as care rather than shame.
Nobody prepares you for that fateful day when being a manager means saying, your body odour is becoming a problem. This is one of those conversations managers avoid because it feels just that bit too personal, so most of them ignore it and hope it goes away. Other people notice, it becomes nasty gossip, then that person gets embarrassed, people start leaving deodorant cans on desks, They overhear some nasty jokes instead of just being privately helped by one manager. That's not leadership in action. It's delay. It's lack of courage. Say this instead. I need to raise something a bit awkward because I respect you and I don't want it becoming a bigger issue. I have noticed a bit of a smell on your clothes recently, maybe after a busy or a hot day, and I wasn't sure if you were aware. I know this kind of thing can be down to all sorts of reasons, and I thought it was better to to let you know privately so you can take extra care rather than leave it unsaid. Then stop talking. This works because it's private, it's brief, and it's respectful. You're not diagnosing anything, you're not trying to shame anybody, you're just giving them a chance to act. If you want the words for awkward manager moments just like this, grab my free Say This First guide. I've put it with this post.
