Ducking out gracefully

We all talk to a lot of people in hostels.  In fact, we talk to everyone!  But every once in a while you feel like your great discussion went on for just a little too long. Breaking it off can be awkward and you don’t want to be rude, but there is always work to be done in a hostel!

Here’s an article about how to politely excuse yourself from a conversation. The Right Way to Back Out of a Networking Conversation

The article suggests three methods of ending the conversation graciously:

1) Make an honest getaway plan
"Wrap up your conversation by thanking the person for their time and letting them know that you enjoyed meeting them," says Weinberg. "Then say something honest like, ‘Please excuse me, I want to catch Jim, my former colleague, to say hello before he leaves.'"

In a hostel you probably DO need to excuse yourself to check someone in/out, answer the phone, make the rounds though the property, hug another guest before they run off to the train station, etc.  When in doubt, you probably always need to check the toilet paper in the bathrooms.

2) Schedule time to follow up
Another humane way out is to ask for the person’s contact information, and make plans to follow up and continue the conversation later.
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Caveat: Don’t try this approach unless you actually intend to reach out. You don’t want to lead anyone on.

Is there an event going on in the hostel later in the evening? Perfect! “Unfortunately I need to run, but let me add you on Facebook so we can keep in touch.  We should meet up at the pub crawl tonight, too.  I’m curious to hear what happened when you finally left Budapest.”

3) Make an introduction
When you’re talking to someone one-on-one, a great way to transition out of the conversation is to introduce the person to someone else… That way, you’re not leaving the person to be a lone wolf at the party, and maybe you’ve even helped her make a useful connection.

This is a simple and elegant solution, and there is usually someone around who would enjoy taking your place.  “Have you met Peter? He was also traveling around Brazil. Peter, this is Mary. She was just telling me about a great capoeira show.”

Every receptionist should be armed with some kind of escape plan to make sure their focus can be spread around everywhere it belongs.  Do you have a favorite exit line to excuse yourself from long conversations?