Haveo · What to say at a networking event when you don't know anyone
How to end a conversation without it being awkward
Say a true thing plus a next step: "I'm going to grab a drink — it was good to meet you." You do not owe an excuse, and ending a conversation cleanly is a kindness rather than a rejection. Knowing how you will leave is what makes it safe to start.
Four lines that work
- The errand. "I'm going to get a drink — good to meet you." True, unarguable, and you can do it immediately.
- The handoff. "You should meet Dana, she's doing the same thing." The best one, if you have a Dana: you leave and they gain something.
- The honest close. "I'm going to go and talk to a few more people, but I'm glad we met." Nobody has ever objected to this.
- The next step. "I'd like to carry this on — are you on LinkedIn?" Ends the conversation and keeps the person.
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Why you do not need an excuse
Everyone at the event knows that the point is to talk to more than one person. Leaving a conversation is the expected behavior, not a breach of one.
An elaborate excuse is what makes it awkward, because it implies something needed covering up.
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Land it properly
Say their name, say the good-to-meet-you, and then actually move. Standing there afterwards undoes it and you have to do the whole thing again.
Three seconds of deliberate movement is the difference between a clean ending and a drifting one.
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When they will not stop
Raise it to something unambiguous. "I'm going to let you go" while stepping back is a complete sentence and it is understood everywhere.
If it still does not land, you are allowed to be plain: "I'm going to move on — take care." You have not been rude. You have been clear.
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Why this is the first thing to prepare
People who dread these rooms usually do not dread starting a conversation. They dread being stuck in one. An exit line you have said out loud once removes that, and the starting gets easier on its own.
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Rehearse it before you walk in.
Haveo builds your intro, lets you practice out loud with an AI coach, and keeps your notes one tap away in the room. Free on iPhone and iPad.
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