Don’t wait too long to end a conversation. Otherwise, you and your partner will feel the strain and become uncomfortable, anxious, or even bored. Wait until you have just finished a comment, and then restate in a few sentences an acknowledgement of your partner’s last few statements. Smile, shake hands, look them in the eye and say, “it was nice talking to you.” Then move to the other side of the room.

Better yet: engage the rule of reciprocation. Wait until they’ve just finished a sentence, and say something to the effect of: “You know, based on what you’ve just said, you really should… meet this person/ read this book/ check out this website, etc… If you have a card, I’ll send it to you / introduce you/etc…” As soon as they give you a card, you have a perfect opportunity to say “Great! I’ll email you soon. It was a pleasure meeting you”. Or, if they’ve agreed to meet someone in the room, simply say “let me introduce you”. Since you’ve just given something, they can’t help but have positive feelings for you.

What if you’re stuck with a bore, or a complainer? Here are two options: one is to express some words of sympathy such as, “It sounds like you’re having a rough time”, or “I’m sorry to hear that you’re having so much trouble.” This will indicate that you have been listening and empathize with his or her problem. Then look this person in the eye and say “I hope things work out four you,” smile, give a warm handshake and move on.

The other solution is to take your “problem person” under your wing and introduce him or her to someone else. You can probably find someone at the event you are attending who will have more in common than you do with your problem person.