Host: How do I end a first meeting?

Gloria MacDonald: Ending your first meeting is really important. Knowing how to do it is a bit of an art. We highly recommend that, that first meeting really be just 45 minutes to an hour, unless of course, everything is going gangbusters and you both want to extend it but if it is just pleasant then you know what, it is better to keep it short and sweet rather than end up being a long ruling thing.

So find a valid reason why you need to leave. So, for example you can say, It has been really great meeting you and I need to get going because I have got some work to do this evening or something. Always end on a positive note. There is always something you can value about another human being.

So always say something positive about that person like, I really enjoyed meeting you. It sounds like you have a fascinating career or something like, It was great to meet you, I really wish you all the best in this new venture you are working on.

Thats something positive or Gosh, it was such an interesting conversation and you sound like you have such great kids and a great relationship with them, if kids and that persons relationship with their kids is obviously, important to them from the conversation.

So there is always something you can find that is of interest, thats valuable about that person, honor that person as a human being. So, end on a positive note and give them some sincere, warm, genuine compliment.

Thats really the best way to end the meeting. Now, if you are really interested in seeing this person a second time, then I highly recommend, if you dont have their e-mail address, exchange business cards. Even if you are not so sure, you want to see them a second time, exchange business cards so that you can get an e-mail address.

An exchange of business cards is just something that we do so commonly today. So, you can say, Here is my business card and hopefully, you will get that persons business card back or you could always say, Here is my business card, can I have one of yours? or Do you have one of yours with you? That way, you can always, if you are a woman and the man has paid for your drinks, it is common courtesy to at least send him an email or phone him and leave him a voice mail message and thank him very much for buying you a coffee or a drink. Thats just common courtesy and something you should do.