Cheat sheet · Clean exit
Name what you enjoyed, then say what you’re doing next. “Good to hear about the Leeds launch. I’m going to grab a coffee before the next session.” No apology needed.
Glossary
Clean exit
Leaving a conversation without an excuse or apology: say what you enjoyed, then what you’re doing next.
From the lesson
Drill step 3
Practise two clean exits out loud until they sound natural.
Take it into your day
Have one real small-talk exchange today, in the lift, in the kitchen, before a meeting starts, and end it with a clean exit.
The mission
Go somewhere with people in it: a party, a barbecue, a networking event, team drinks. Run the whole week once. Threshold pause, scan and land, warmth first, ARE, two follow-ups, clean exit. Eyes: three seconds, break sideways. Hands: visible and still. Voice: pause instead of “um”, land your sentences. One conversation is enough.
Where it is taught
- Day 2 · Small Talk That Goes Somewhere: How to make small talk at networking events and work drinks
Where it comes up
- Day 6 · The Deliberate Room: Practise first impressions and small talk at a real event
- Day 7 · Week 1 Review: Week 1 review: measure your speaking pace and fillers
- Day 14 · Week 2 Review: Week 2 review: hedges and fillers
- Day 27 · The Full Run: Practise everything at one real event
In practice
Examples from the course that use it.
One real conversation
You pause at the door, scan, land on someone standing alone near the bar, smile. “They always run these late.” “Every time,” he says. You add: “I’m only here because my boss sent me. What brings you?” You ask two follow-up questions, then exit cleanly when the host calls everyone through.
The exhibitor drinks
Beside the buyer from Thursday: “Longest three days of the year, and the coffee gets worse each one. I only stayed for this. What was the find of the show for you?” Two follow-ups about her shortlist. Clean exit when the awards start. On Monday she emails you first.
Exited cleanly
“Good talking. I’ll find you after the speeches.” You left like a regular, not like someone escaping.
Related terms
- Follow-up questionA question about what the person just told you. It proves you listened and keeps them talking.
- AREAnchor, Reveal, Encourage: comment on something you both share right now, add something about you, then ask them a question.
- PaceHow fast you speak, in words per minute. Around 140 to 160 is easy to follow; slow down for the key points.
- Entrance sequenceThe Day 1 routine for walking into a room: pause in the doorway for one breath, scan the room, then land on one person and smile. Keep your body open, greet them before you talk about yourself, and say your first sentence slowly.
- Two sighsTwo physiological sighs: a big breath in through the nose, a short top-up sniff, then a long, slow breath out through the mouth. Do it twice. It can help you settle.