Handling conversations is often quite difficult and especially so when someone else dominates the discussion or steers it off-topic—just how do you deal with that?! Well, it doesn’t have to involve bluntly asking them to stop talking as there are some polite ways to manage the flow without offending anyone. Here are eleven smart phrases that people use to gently suggest it’s time to move on & let others share their thoughts. These sayings will let the other person know that it’s no longer their turn to talk anymore but in a polite way.
Featured Image Credit: macniak /Depositphotos.com.
“Hold on a sec, can I jump in here?”
Using “Hold on a sec, can I jump in here?” is a way for you to interrupt politely when someone has been talking for a while and it’s a rather courteous way to signal that you have something to add. Saying this phrase helps you enter the conversation without making the other person feel like you’re brushing them off. You can’t get more polite than that & that’s what makes this such a useful phrase.
“I hear you but let’s consider that later.”
The phrase, “I hear you but let’s consider that later” shows that you’ve listened to the other person and you appreciate what’s been said, although you think you should wait to discuss it. You’re postponing your discussion of the topic and this maintains the current flow of your conversation. At the same time, you make sure the speaker knows that you’re not ignoring their thoughts.
“Your passion is great so let’s channel it into the next task.”
When you say, “Your passion is great so let’s channel it into the next task,” you’re showing that you recognize someone’s enthusiasm and believe it’s time to move forward. You’re trying to redirect their passion toward something productive or relevant rather than dismissing it altogether. The other person will understand you want them to apply their enthusiasm where it’ll make a more positive impact, which means they won’t be offended.
“Let’s circle back to that in a bit.”
Saying “Let’s circle back to that in a bit” is a friendly way to acknowledge someone’s point while suggesting that it’s better to talk about it later. It lets the person know that you care about their input but it might be more relevant at another time, which keeps the conversation focused. You’re not dismissing anyone’s ideas—instead, you’re simply promising to revisit the topic soon.
“That’s a great insight – perhaps we can explore it afterwards.”
“That’s a great insight – perhaps we can explore it afterwards” is a sentence that works to compliment the other person’s idea while also suggesting it’s worth talking about later on. You’re acknowledging the value of what they’ve said—but you’ve also kept the conversation on track. It stops the other person from thinking that you’re telling them to be quiet.
“Mind if we table that for the moment?”
“Mind if we table that for the moment?” is a polite way to pause a topic that might be sidetracking the conversation or unnecessary at the moment, as it suggests you’re temporarily setting the idea aside—even if you never return to it. It’s quite a helpful phrase to use in meetings or discussions where you have limited time but still want to respect the speaker. Essentially, you’re prioritizing the agenda without hurting anyone’s feelings.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
You should use “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves” whenever you want to gently remind everyone to stick to the current subject—it makes everyone realize that the conversation could be starting to go off-topic. Saying such a phrase will refocus the discussion without sounding critical. Plus, using inclusive words like “ourselves” and “us” makes sure that you’re not singling anyone out for saying the wrong thing.
“I’m curious about what others think, too.”
Rather than telling someone to be quiet, you might want to encourage other people to join the conversation by saying, “I’m curious about what others think, too.” It subtly invites others to share their views and will create a natural pause for someone who has been talking a lot. You’re making sure that you get to hear different perspectives but in a way that doesn’t directly criticize anyone.
“Could we revisit that point a bit later?”
You may want to use “Could we revisit that point a bit later?” to postpone any unnecessary discussions, as the phrase shows you recognize the importance of the topic—but you also think it should be addressed at another time. You’ll keep the conversation on track in a way that respects the speaker’s contribution so they don’t feel offended. Even if you don’t revisit the topic, the other person will still think that you wanted to do so.
“Let’s keep that thought on ice for now.”
Using “Let’s keep that thought on ice for now” makes your request to pause the topic come across as more casual, which is great for keeping things friendly. Such a phrase also lightens the mood while making it clear that you believe it’s time to move on to other points. You completely avoid any negativity or overly serious conversations.
“I think we’re getting a bit sidetracked.”
The phrase, “I think we’re getting a bit sidetracked” is quite useful for those times when you want to point out that the discussion is drifting away from the main topic, but in a respectful way. You’re indirectly steering the conversation back on course without making anyone feel blamed. It’ll keep the discussion as productive as it should be.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us on MSN.
