Have you ever wished you could slide your way out of a sticky social scenario? Perhaps you’re trapped in a dry conversation – even worse, a story you’ve heard many times before – that turns your party into a snooze fest. Have you ever run out of polite ways to tell a telemarketer that you’re simply not interested in their products or services? Or, been face-to-face with an inebriated co-worker that doesn’t know when to say when? We’ve all been there. The following tips will give you the edge on awkward situations and how to exit them with ease.

Trapped in a Dull Conversation
• The easiest way to excuse yourself from a boring story-teller is to politely remove yourself to refresh your drink, grab a bite to eat, offer to help the hostess, or to simply make a phone call. Be sure to follow through with your excuse to avoid raising any eyebrows.
• If you can’t seem to get away, try introducing the unexciting conversationalist to someone else. Once they are talking, make your getaway.

A Talkative Telemarketer
• First, try using polite tactics to get off of the phone. It’s perfectly acceptable to say, “Thanks, but I’m not interested!”
• It’s also understandable if you have to interrupt a persistent sales person to repeat your thanks and then simply hang up. You don’t need to explain or offer any information as to why you are not interested in their product or service.

Stumped in a Job Interview
• It’s difficult expressing you don’t know the answer to a question—especially if it is expected that you should. However, a graceful way out is by simply replying: “That’s a great question and I’d like more time to consider it and get back to you.”

Chose the Wrong Restaurant
• If you try a new place to eat and, after you’ve been seated, decide it’s either too expensive or too unappetizing; it’s quite alright to quietly excuse yourself and leave.
• If you’ve been served a drink or bread, it’s nice to leave a small tip for the service.

The Inebriated Co-worker
• When a co-worker wants to turn an after-work drink into an all-night party, politely decline a second drink by explaining you have a full schedule in the morning.
• If your co-worker has already had too much to drink, make an attempt to assure he or she gets home safely.
• To avoid awkwardness at the office, try to make your co-worker feel comfortable and not embarrassed. Face it: most likely, we’ve all been there!