Small Talk

142 . the fine art of small talk
now knows that your need to move on has nothing to do
with the quality of time you just spent with that person.
Or you can borrow the late George Plimpton’s strategy
for departure from bores at parties. Plimpton said he always
carried two drinks. If he found himself talking to
someone he wished to escape, he politely excused himself
by saying he had to deliver the other drink.
The cardinal rule of the exit is that when you depart,
you do what you said you were going to do. If you said
good-bye to Joanne by telling her that you were going to
see the exhibits, go do it. If you allow yourself to get
sidetracked en route to your new destination, you run the
risk of insulting your former partner. For instance, if
Vince stops you on your way to the exhibits, do not stay
and talk! Instead, say, Vince, it’s good to see you. I was just on
my way to the exhibits. Would you like to join me or can I catch
up with you afterward? If you make the mistake of getting
immersed in a conversation with Vince, all Joanne sees is
that you didn’t go to the exhibits. She now presumes that
you were never headed there, and that your true goal was
just to end the conversation. You now have a tarnished
reputation, an upset person, and other possible unintended
consequences. Don’t burn a bridge by failing to
get to your next destination!