Tag: office-etiquette

I like my coworkers and don't want to be the office ghost, but small talk tends to eat my whole coffee break. Our floor is open-plan, and people swing by my desk right when I'm on a deadline. I need friendly ways to wrap up a chat in under a minute without looking like I'm fleeing the building. Bonus points if it works while standing at the coffee machine with both hands full. What polite exit lines or cues actually work in a busy office without hurting anyone's feelings?