Breaking Up is Hard to Do!

Last week, when I taught a class in Rochester NY, Alaina asked, “How do you END a conversation?”

Many people have difficulty with this. Whether you want to cling to a person for the safety of having someone at your side at a crowded event, or if you’re the type that has ‘just one more story’ you feel you must share … ending the conversation can be difficult.

Here are some tips that we, at Contacts Count, the networking skills specialists, recommend:
- End with the future in mind. Recap what you said you would GIVE, make sure you have the person’s contact information and follow up within 2 days.
- Ask your conversational partner to introduce you to someone else. “Do you know anyone at the meeting from the Programming Committee?”
- Let the person know you enjoyed talking to him and thank him for his time
- Be confident.
- Use Contact Count’s method: LEAVE

Let go after 5 – 10 minutes.
Explain what’s on your Agenda.
Appreciate your partner.
Verify the next step.
Exit with a smile and a handshake.

Remember, change is under-rated. Whether you’re leaving a long-term relationship or a 5 minute conversation, it’s still a change and it can be awkward or difficult. When it’s time to move on, simply thank him for his time, shake hands and go forward with confidence to find your next conversational partner.

Contributed by Sue Schnorr, President of Training Insights, Inc. and Exclusive Associate with Contacts Count in NY.