A Clean Exit Line
Exit with three parts: a thank you, a real reason or next step, and a goodbye with their name.
Common advice in small-talk books; not tested.
Why it works
Most people stay stuck because they have no words to leave. A ready line lets you go without seeming cold.
How to do it
- Wait for the end of their sentence, not the middle.
- Say one warm thing about the chat.
- Give a true reason or a next step.
- Shake hands or namaste, use the name, and actually walk away.
What to say
Thank you, Vikram. I promised myself I would meet three exhibitors before lunch, so I will go. Let us talk Monday.
Really good meeting you. Let me introduce you to Sameer before I go; he works on exports too.
Avoid
Saying I will just get a drink and then standing near them all evening.
Example
At a CII session in Chandigarh, Harpreet used the introduce-and-leave move to free himself from a talker while doing him a favour.
Practise it
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