How do you politely end a conversation that’s dragging on without hurting feelings

A polite exit usually works best if you use a quick formula: reason + appreciation + next step + close. For coworkers: 'I've got a hard stop in two minutes, but this was helpful — send me the notes and I'll reply after lunch.' Or 'I need to jump to my 3:30, let's pick this up tomorrow at 10 — does that work?' For neighbors: 'I've got to get dinner started, but it was great catching up — see you at the HOA meeting.' If there's no clear follow-up, appreciation + close still works: 'I'm going to head out, but I loved hearing about your trip — talk soon.'

Pair your words with gentle exit cues: angle your body 45 degrees away, gather your bag/keys, take one small step back, and offer a parting smile or handshake.

Give a heads-up before you run out of time: 'I've got about five minutes, then I need to peel off,' and actually wrap at five. Use a wrap line to signal the end: 'Before I go, is there anything else we should cover?' or 'I won't keep you.' If they keep going, kindly interrupt once: 'I want to hear the rest, but I can't give it attention right now — can we continue later?' Then close with action: start walking toward the door or say 'I'll email you this afternoon' and disengage.

Someone will pout anyway; say it clean and leave. For what it's worth, taking a few minutes to practice this in a calm setting usually helps it stick.

I'm broke and late: "lab in ten—DM me later.". For what it's worth, taking a few minutes to practice this in a calm setting usually helps it stick.

Happens constantly—someone corners me just as the daycare clock is ticking and dinner's not even a thought yet. I feel rude cutting it off, but if I don't, the baby melts down and my inbox mutates. Coworkers especially will wander on forever because they think standing is "quick." Meanwhile Slack is chiming and I'm mentally burning the pasta.

What's worked is setting the exit at the start: "I've got five, then school run." Then when the time's up, I literally step back, angle my body toward the door, and say, "I've got to grab the kids, let's pick this up after 2." If they keep going, I repeat the headline once and start moving. With neighbors, I use a task anchor: "I left laundry in the machine, I'll swing by later." And if it's a coworker, I offer a specific next step like, "Shoot me the doc and I'll comment by tomorrow," while I'm already walking. It feels blunt at first, but people adjust, and I get home before meltdown o'clock.

I default to "promised to call—before I lose this phone.". For what it's worth, taking a few minutes to practice this in a calm setting usually helps it stick.

I do the "travel clock" exit: "Hey, I've got a hard stop at 3, let's pick it up tomorrow," while zipping my bag like a countdown timer. Learned that after I once lost my passport, luggage, and dignity in the same week—now I over-prepare my goodbyes. If they linger, I walk and talk toward the door; the feet end the meeting for you.

Use a time boundary, state it once, then leave. Many won't notice soft cues, so add motion—turn, pack, stand. Some feelings may still get bruised; clarity is kinder than lingering.

Easy outs: "deadline," "school pickup," "budget check—talk soon."