An exit strategy is a pre-considered method to exit a conversation politely and professionally. We all need an exit strategy in our toolkit for those moments when it’s no longer constructive to stay in the conversation.

Before you jump in and say, ‘Awesome, I can just exit, I am loving that,’ let’s make sure you understand the foundations of an exit strategy. We will examine the structure that makes up an exit strategy and suggest a few things to look out for. Next, you’ll find a step-by-step guide on how to craft it. Finally, we will look at examples set in different contexts with different people.

4 am

James woke after a fitful night. He lay in bed wrestling with fear and anxiety. Something had to change at work. He was no longer himself. He now approached many conversations, and each team meeting with dread. Each question, each rebuttal, each attack felt increasingly personal; with every blow he imagined his confidence evaporating through the perspiration that he hoped others would not see. He was lost and did not know where to turn for help.

He had no idea how to find his old self that could answer questions confidently. Until he learnt that he could exit a conversation professionally.

He was sceptical at first, but he had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Most importantly, he wanted to claw back his reputation.

Meet Steve

Steve is in a senior leadership role. He has been described by others as a direct shooter. He has a good sense of humour and is comfortable in calling people on their behaviours. He can be intolerant of people who are not logical and objective. In his 30 plus years in various leadership roles, he has been presented with assumptions presented as facts. On occasions, the assumption has been accompanied by a conspiracy theory. 

This is how Steve successfully applied an exit strategy…

Meet Anne

Anne was in middle management, was well liked and staff trusted her. She liked to create and nurture her connections and believed in giving every conversation the time that it needed. Always willing to listen, she felt at times that people took advantage of her and she knew she gave away too much of her time. 

This is how Anne successfully deployed her exit strategy to keep the conversation focused and manage everyone’s time…

It’s your turn.

Let’s not over think this.

If you have completed the check lists as you have been reading you will already have done most of the work required.

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Preparation questions…

Your worksheets will guide you step-by-step as you work your way through my book EXIT.

Completing your EXIT worksheets as you go will help you put what you learn on paper and walk away with not only your own exit strategy and a clear plan of how you can apply your exit strategy.