People are forgiving. They want things to go well, and this question disarms them and eases the way to a new beginning.

Take the real life example of a fund raiser walking into the office of a wealthy benefactor named Allan to ask for a million-dollar donation to his alma mater's College of Engineering. Though he knew better, the fund raiser failed to gain rapport and explore Allan's true interests before jumping in with the big request. When he was severely rebuked for his presumptuousness, the fund raiser realized he had made a serious error and had dug himself into a deep hole. He got up and excused himself, left the room, and 10 seconds later knocked on the door and asked the power question, Do you mind if we start over? Allan smiled and invited the fund raiser to sit down. Start over they did, and after approaching the revived conversation the right way, the fund raiser discovered that Allan was interested in making a major gift--but to the University's theater program, not its engineering program!

Try it yourself. The next time a conversation gets off on the wrong foot or veers off track, reset with this powerful question. Here are some pointers:

• If you're in the wrong, apologize. Take responsibility for the conversation's derailment. You might say something like "I've gotten off on the wrong foot and I'm really sorry. Do you mind if I begin again? I haven't done this justice." Or, "The reason I'd like to start over is that I put my foot in my mouth. Can I give it a second try?"
• If you're NOT in the wrong, and the conversation has simply strayed into unproductive territory, ask in a way that doesn't place blame. Try: "Can we step back from this? What should we be talking about?" Actually, even if the other party made the initial faux pas, it's still okay to say you're sorry the conversation went awry. You're not taking blame; you're just acknowledging regret that things took a bad turn and that the other person is upset.
• Either way, smile. It goes a long way toward smoothing any ruffled feathers. More than words alone, a genuine smile that reaches the eyes can evoke a powerful visceral response. It shows that your intentions are pure, and when people realize that, the vast majority are willing to give you another chance.
• When you start over, really start over. You don't have to actually leave the room and come back in, as in the earlier example, but draw a sharp dividing line between the bad conversation and the new one. A good way to reset is to ask the other person a question and draw them back into the conversation as an active participant. It could be something as simple as "Can I ask--how have you been thinking about this?" or "Let's step back for a second--can you share your view of the situation?

Of course, starting over isn't just for the workplace. It can work just as well to defuse a budding argument with your spouse or any family member or friend. It's a bold, gutsy move to restart a conversation from scratch; it feels awkward. Most of us are not accustomed to swallowing our pride, admitting in real time that we screwed up, and asking if we can make it right. But the next time a conversation goes wrong, try it. Not only will it salvage the moment, it will pave the way for a more authentic and productive relationship in the future.