Move Along
Who doesn’t know someone who just loves conversation? These are people who have the “gift of gab”. Maybe you are one of these people who love talking with others.
Conversations are great for sharing stories and building relationships, but they don’t always happen at the right time or the conversation goes longer than you have time to give. How do you respectfully cut off that conversation when you need to move on?
A Story
I had a conversation with a neighbor at the picket fence between our yards. We would often catch up with each other at the picket fence. This was a neighbor anyone would like to have. I loved catching up with them and because of their high character and professionalism (at work and at home). I always learned something in our casual conversations.
One day, we had been talking for a little while (maybe longer than we should have). At some point, they realized that they needed to move on, but I didn’t. Eventually, they said,
“Hey, Chris, I have time for just one more story then I need to get back to what I was doing.”
I had a sudden realization that what they just said was about the nicest and most respectful way to say, “Chris, it’s time to end this conversation and move on.”
Challenge For You
- If you have the “Gift of Gab”, recognize when someone may need to move on. Be aware of your time, the time of the person you are speaking with, what else is going on, etc.
- Or if you are in a conversation with someone who has the “Gift of Gab”, and are running out of time, think about how you can respectfully end your conversation.
In your own words, find an opportunity to respectfully say, “I’ve got to move on . . . “. Make your version of, “I have time for just one more story then I need to . . . “.
My Reluctance to Share This
Please don’t take offense, if you know me and you have heard me use this technique. When I have, we usually discover that both of us need to move on to something else. Between you and me, I find that those with the “Gift of Gab” sometimes are unaware of the time.
What about you?
Have you ever been in this situation, or is it just me? Share your stories and experience in the comments.