We’ve all been there… those conversations that drone on for 30 minutes, and you know it could’ve easily wrapped up in five.
Sometimes you’re the one desperately trying to find an excuse to bail, and other times you’re completely unaware of that fact that you’re the one with diarrhea mouth.
A new study published in the journal, “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A.,” says only 2% of conversations ended precisely when both participants want them to.
· Why? You can blame all of this on social politeness, or not wanting to come off like some sort of insane type person. In the first study, researchers found 66% of participants said their “most recent conversation” – usually with a friend, family member, or romantic partner – should’ve ended sooner.
· The second study paired people together and asked them to talk for 45 minutes. In post-conversation interviews, more than 68% said they’d wished things had wrapped up sooner. Why did they stick around? They were looking for a polite way to end the chat…thereby extending the misery.
Linda Sapadin is a psychologist who specializes in communication. She says there’s a simple way to get things wrapped up, and not look like as much of a jerk. By simply telling the other person “you have to leave,” but making a point to “say something positive about your shared reaction” you’ll be able to make it graceful exit. For bonus points, make the thing you’re saying “something positive about” something specific in the chat…to show that you were actually listening before you started to tune out.
HT: CNN