Crisis Management: What to Do When You've Committed an Email Faux Pas

It's happened to all of us: we've hit "send" on the wrong email to the wrong colleague, and then experienced that sinking feeling that our misdirected message is right-this-minute being opened and read by its un-intended recipient.

The worst part is knowing there's no way to fix it. Or is there? Though an email faux pas is often irreperable, you can take steps toward damage control.

1. Recall the message. Some email services (Outlook is one) have a "recall" capability. You can recall or replace a message only if its recipient is logged on and using Microsoft Outlook and has not read the message or moved it from their Inbox. In Mail, in the Navigation Pane, click Sent Items. Open the message you want to recall or replace. In the message window, on the Actions menu, click Recall This Message.
Caveat: The recipient of the message you want to recall must also be using an Exchange server e-mail account. For example, you cannot recall a message sent to someone's personal Internet service provider POP3 e-mail account.
When in doubt, call your office IT person.

2. Apologize. If the offense is minor, send a quick follow-up email that says, "Please disregard my previous message--it was intended for someone else. My apologies for the confusion."
If the offense is great, however, it's best to deal with the problem directly by approaching the recipient in person and offering your most humble mea culpa.
If, in the worst case scenario, you have sent an inappropriate email to the entire company, your best course of action might be to go to your immediate superior to confess your misdeed and work out a strategy for saving face. But get used to the idea that people are going to be gossiping about this one for a while.

Are there any other strategies for managing the crisis of the mis-sent email? Please share your advice (& humorous horror stories!). In this age of constant communication, some mistakes are simply inevitable--but handling them well is a sign of professional grace and maturity.