How to cut short a conversation

You’re on the phone with someone who wants to have a longer conversation than you do and you're feeling pressure to get to some important work priorities. What can you say?

You can easily communicate that you have needs and that you also care about theirs, even while making an abrupt shift in the conversation, with a statement like:

“I see that we've been talking for about 15 minutes, but I have a deadline that I'm trying to get through and I need some time to get to it. How would you feel about finishing this conversation at the end of the week when we both have a little bit more time?”

By stating your needs, approximating theirs, and asking how they feel about it, you’re buffering the abrupt shift. By being specific about when to finish the conversation, you’re acknowledging that you value their needs.