Who hasn’t experienced those awkward silences when you want to end a conversation? When this happens, you don’t have anything else to say but you don’t want to sound rude. That’s the moment when these awkward silences appear, those endless seconds when nobody knows what to say and how to leave the situation.
The good news is that you don’t need to worry about this anymore, because communication experts have the solution to end any conversation in less than 15 seconds in a nice way. So, let’s get started!
The reason for awkward silences
These silences happen because many people don’t know how to end a conversation. We want to be polite and avoid the other person feeling rejected, but at the same time we need to go or do something else. So, we end up having a long conversation full of repetitive or empty sentences and those weird silences nobody likes.
In fact, studies show that most of these conversations last more than people involved in the conversation want. None want to be the first to end things because of fear of being rude.
This sentence is the solution
According to experts, there’s a simple sentence that will help those people avoid uncomfortable silences and end the conversation in a nice way: “It’s been a pleasure talking to you, but I must go.”
But, why does this sentence work? I mean, it’s very simple, but the key is on three elements:
- It’s clear: it leaves no confusion that the conversation is over.
- It’s polite: you acknowledge the value of the interaction.
- It’s warm: it prevents the other person from feeling dismissed.
So, in just a few seconds you will be able to say goodbye politely and without experiencing those silences. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Contexts to use this sentence
The best thing about it is that you can use it in many contexts, but it’s important you combine an appreciation and a clear reason to leave. And there you go, you have the perfect solution. Let’s have a look at some examples of contexts where you can use this:
- A casual chat at a coffee shop.
- A quick exchange at a work event.
- A chance meeting with an acquaintance on the street.
Of course, you should adapt this sentence to the different contexts. These are some alternatives:
- “I really enjoyed this conversation. Let’s keep in touch.”
- “Thank you for your time. I hope we can continue this another day.”
- “I need to take care of something else, but it was great talking.”
- “Unfortunately, I have to go now, but I enjoyed our chat.”
- “It was wonderful speaking with you. Have a great day.”
- “Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. Let’s talk again soon.”
The importance of being grateful
Ending the conversation is more than saving time, it has real benefits such as:
- Stronger impressions: people often remember how an interaction ends more than how it began.
- Better relationships: a kind exit shows respect and thoughtfulness.
- Time management: you can control your schedule instead of feeling trapped.
- Fewer awkward silences: no need to wait for the conversation to fizzle out.
If you don’t include the part of being grateful, you will experience uncomfortable silences and the other person will think you didn’t value their time. So, now you know what’s the solution and you can avoid this situation without making the other person feel bad. Will you have a go at using this sentence in your next conversation? We hope this idea helps you when you find yourself wanting to end silences that nobody enjoys. Good luck in your next conversation!