How to Smooth Talk Your Way out of Trouble

Even the best-behaved among us sometimes find ourselves in a little bit of trouble. Sometimes it's a teacher who wants to know where your homework is. Or maybe a police officer has stopped you for speeding. In any situation where you have gotten in over your head, know that you can talk yourself out of it.

Instructions

1. Prepare an excuse. Feigning simple ignorance is best.

2. Keep the conversation short. Your goal is to leave the situation as soon as you can, before the other person has time to think about what is really going on.

3. Make eye contact. Avoiding eye contact is commonly known to be a sign of lying.

4. Compliment the person you're talking with. In addition to making the person feel more charitable towards you, compliments provide a useful distraction. Something like, "You were smart to catch that," works ever time.

5. Offer a solution that benefits you. If you didn't do your homework, say something like, "I'm sorry about that. I'll turn it in tomorrow." In the case of a traffic ticket, you can say, "How about if we both save time, and you let me off with a warning?"

6. Urge the conversation toward a conclusion. Remember that you want to force the person to come to a fast decision, before he has time to consider what you've done wrong.

7. Thank the person for her understanding. Promise that you have learned your lesson and that you won't repeat your mistake.

Tips & Warnings

• These steps are more effective when you use them sparingly. The less often you're in trouble, the more likely you'll be able to talk yourself out of it.

• Don't make up a big story. Complicated stories require details, and trying to remember the details can trip you up very easily.