The Smartest Way to Suddenly End Unwanted Conversations
You can politely turn down unwanted conversations by excusing yourself and inviting the other person with you , or even end the conversation more quickly by listening carefully . However, sometimes the most effective method is to be sharp and precise.
Getting away from the conversation while maintaining respect is not an easy task. You don’t want to sound rude, but you also really don’t want to waste time on either side. When you’ve finally hit your limit, Chris Collin, co-author of What To Talk About: On The Airplane, At The Cocktail Party, In The Tiny Elevator With Your Boss Boss , suggests ending the conversation with something short and sweet:
Regardless of whether you are having a pleasant or unpleasant conversation, I think the ways to get out of any of them are the same. My approach is to look them in the eye with a big smile and say, “It was so nice talking to you.” And then you just take a sharp turn and walk away. As you go, you will be convinced that you have wronged the person … But I believe that we must overcome this and know that they will overcome it too. When you treat people like adults, like mature people, and like they can handle tricky things like ending a conversation, then they love it, and they love you for it.
The trick is that there is no trick in it. Of course, this approach must be handled properly. Don’t interrupt anyone in mid-sentence, and be sure to look in the eyes and smile when you end a conversation. Also, try to be as sincere as possible when you mention how good it was to talk to them. For some it will turn off a little, but your time has come; appreciate it.
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