Having a nice conversation and ending it on a good note involves some subtle cues and phrases that are different depending on who you are talking to. Ending a formal conversation with a professional acquaintance or anyone you don’t know well is a bit different from ending a conversation with a good friend or close family member. For both types of conversations, you’ll want to look out for signs that the conversation is winding down, and use polite phrases to end your interaction with the person.
EditSteps
EditEnding a Formal Conversation
- Begin ending a conversation when there is a natural ebb to it. Conversations always die down at some point; this happens when one or both of you find it difficult to think of new things to say. If both people are still actively participating and the conversation is interesting, you can keep it going longer.[1]
- The length of time you continue a conversation will differ depending on your relationship with the person.
- If it’s a conversation that’s strictly professional with someone you don’t really know or care for, you’ll probably want to end it in 5-10 minutes. You could continue a more personal conversation with a colleague that you like for longer than that.
- Give a warning statement that you’re ending the conversation. It’s polite to give the other person a heads up that you are ending the conversation. You can say “I’m sure you’re busy; I’ll let you get back to work” as one way to signal that you’re ending the conversation soon.[2]
- Other phrases you can use when a conversation is winding down include “It’s been great talking with you” or “I’m glad I ran into you.”
- Smile and thank the other person. Thanking a current or potential colleague or boss is very important in coming across as professional. You can say, “Thank you for your time,” “Thanks so much for meeting with me,” or “Thank you again” if you already thanked them previously in the conversation.[3]
- Smiling as you thank them reinforces that you are happy with the conversation.
- Thanking a colleague who you know well or who you consider a friend is polite if they helped you with something, though you can make it more informal by saying something like a simple, “Great, thanks!” or “That’s super helpful, thanks!”
- Shake their hand again if it’s your first meeting. For someone you just met in a professional environment, you can shake hands again if you’re comfortable doing so. This is especially common in interviews. Hold your hand out for a hand shake, make eye contact, and say, “It was great meeting you,” or “Thank you again for your time.”[4]
- You can also add “I look forward to hearing from you” if the meeting was an interview or networking in purpose.
- Say, “I appreciate your help” if they answered a question for you. If you received help from a boss, supervisor, or colleague, it’s polite to show that you are grateful for the time they spent helping you. You can say this toward the end of the conversation as you thank them, or right as you depart from their office.[5]
- Suggest a future meeting if you’re networking. If you’re hoping to see the person again professionally, ask if they’d like to get coffee to discuss matters further. Suggest a date within the next couple of weeks, and if they accept, say, “Great, see you then” as end the conversation.[6]
- To make the future meeting more specific, you can suggest a place if you already have one in mind. Or, you can say, “Great, I’ll reach out closer to then so we can decide on a place.”
EditWrapping Up an Informal Conversation
- Start ending the conversation when it dies down. When either person in the conversation starts having a hard time thinking of new things to say, it’s time to start ending the conversation. You’ll be able to tell it’s time to end a conversation if you start becoming bored, if the other person is repeating themselves, or if there is some awkward silence.[7]
- It takes different conversations different lengths of time to reach this point. You may be able to talk for hours with a close friend who you haven’t seen for a while, or with someone that you have a lot in common with.
- With someone you just met, on the other hand, you’ll probably want to keep the conversation shorter.
- Give a reason you’re ending the conversation. Even if you don’t actually have to leave, all meetings and conversations end at some point. When you’re feeling like it’s time to go, you can say, “I should get going, I have to let my dog out” or anything else that you have to do in your day.[8]
- Other phrases you can use are “I should get home, it’s getting late and I have an early morning” or “It’s been great talking to you, but I have to go finish some errands.”
- Smile and say, “Great to see you!” to a friend you don’t see often. When you’re leaving a friend that you rarely see, be sure to let them know you were happy to see them. Other phrases you can use are “It was so nice to get together“ or “Thanks for making time to meet up!”[9]
- You can also end with “Hope to see you again soon!”
- Friends who see each other less often tend to be slightly more formal when speaking than ones who get together frequently, but your comfort with informality will be based on how well you know the other person.
- Say, “Catch you later!” or “See ya!” to a good friend you see regularly. For close friends or family members that you’re very comfortable with and that you see frequently, it’s really anything goes for ending the conversation. Some people are even comfortable just walking away from a conversation if it seems to be ending, especially in a large group setting, such as a party.[10]
- You can also say “Take it easy,” “Later,” “I’m out,” or “Peace” to end a very informal conversation.
- If you like, mention the next time you will see the person. You can say, “So we’re on for next week again?” or “See ya tomorrow.”
EditSources and Citations
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