When I called someone I used to go “Hi, I have this really great idea, I know you will love and I really need your feedback on it right now.”

These days my standard phrase is “Hi, are you busy?”. I started using it simply cos I know that myself and others are often busy and, maybe just here in Sweden, too polite to cut you off.

The result has been that people in general sounds happy and surprised with the unexpected easy way out.

An easy way out of a conversation will make people more engaged in what you have to say.

Cutting someone off after an opening as the one starting this post is like stabbing them in the heart. So giving the “opponent” an easy way out is an advice I can highly recommend if you want to show that you respect thir time, and I bet you others will respect your time after that. They will also be more engaged in what you have to say when you call back later.

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