Chapter 45
Moving On
When I started my company, I had a breakfast meeting with a good friend who is a very successful businessman. I shared my plan for teaching people about business networking and everything the concept entailed.
He laughed and said, “What I need to know is how to end a conversation. The only thing I can think to say when I want to leave the discussion is ‘I have to go to the bathroom.’ ” I chuckled as I thought, “I do see him in hallways going to and from the bathroom—a lot.”
As it turns out, exiting a conversation gracefully is the trickiest part of the Mingling Formula, even more so than starting a conversation. People figure once they're in, they're in. To make events worthwhile, you need to talk with multiple people. Learning how to draw a conversation to a close is critical.
For the most part, people don't want to end a conversation because they don't want to appear rude. Well, you're off the hook; the reverse is true. To monopolize someone's time is rude. The general rule of thumb is a maximum of 10 minutes for a conversation between two people at a business function or cocktail party. I'll give you even less. In my experience, the entire Mingling Formula should happen in 3 to 8 minutes.
Events are opportunities to meet new people and reconnect with current contacts. Thanks to your pre-event homework, you have specific people you hope to meet and others with whom you want to touch base. That can't happen if you spend all night talking with the same person, ...
