Shanli Liu, CPA, CTP, shares three steps to end conversations gracefully: use past-tense statements like "It was good to see you," turn your shoulders toward the exit, and add a transition phrase about where you're headed or a simple goodbye.
How to gracefully exit a conversation. Number 1, when you're ready to go, begin your sentence with past tense, like, "It was good to see you," or, "It's been great catching up." When you speak in past tense, you're telling them that the conversation has ended. It is now in the past. Number 2, while they are responding in kind, like, "Yeah, it's been great to see you too," you are going to open up your body language. So you, instead of facing your shoulders towards them, you're going to turn and open them up to wherever you're wanting to go. So get that outward shoulder and face it towards your car or the door or the bathroom. And if you're sitting down, it's time to stand up. Number 3, it's time to transition out. The most common way to do that is to tell them where you're going. Don't overthink it. It can be, I need to go run some errands, or I need to go refill my drink. And if you don't feel comfortable with that, then just a simple hope you have a great day or enjoy the party is totally fine. So try that and follow me.
