How to Professionally Change the Topic in Conversation

Changing the topic during a conversation in a professional setting can be tricky. If done poorly, it may seem like you’re avoiding the topic or not paying attention. But when done well, it shows emotional intelligence, leadership, and strong communication skills. Here are the best phrases to professionally change the topic without sounding abrupt or disrespectful. 

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Why Learn to Professionally Change the Topic?

Professionals often need to steer conversations in meetings, presentations, or informal discussions. You might need to:

• Keep a meeting on track
• Move away from a sensitive topic
• Shift to a more productive subject
• Wrap up a discussion politely

Knowing how to professionally change the topic helps you maintain control while staying respectful and polite.

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Do’s and Don’ts When Changing the Topic

✅ Do’s

• Acknowledge the current topic briefly
• Use soft transitions to make the change feel natural
• Maintain a respectful tone
• Offer a reason for changing the topic when necessary

❌ Don’ts

• Don’t interrupt mid-sentence
• Don’t ignore someone’s input
• Don’t make the shift sound dismissive or impatient

1. Professionally Change the Topic: Shift the Conversation

These are polite ways to introduce a new topic:

• “That’s a good point. It reminds me of something else we should cover…”
• “Before I forget, I wanted to bring up…”
• “Let’s circle back to that later, but first…”
• “On a slightly different note…”
• “Can I shift gears for a moment?”

✅ Example: “That’s a good point. Speaking of timelines, we also need to discuss the project deadlines.”

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2. Professionally Change the Topic: Get Back on Track

Use these to return to the main focus in meetings:

• “Let’s table that for now and refocus on our main goal.”
• “We’ve spent some time on this—shall we move forward?”
• “To keep things on schedule, let’s move to the next item.”
• “Let’s revisit that after we finish the current agenda.”
• “This is an important discussion, but I’d like to shift to…”

✅ Example: “This is important, but to stay on time, let’s move to the next topic on the agenda.”

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3. Professionally Change the Topic: Informal Work Conversations

These help you shift the subject during casual office chats:

• “Speaking of that, have you heard about…”
• “That’s interesting! By the way, I wanted to ask…”
• “While we’re on the topic of work, I was wondering…”
• “I know this is a bit off-topic, but…”
• “That reminds me—what’s happening with…?”

✅ Example: “That reminds me—how did your presentation go last week?”

4. Professionally Change the Topic: Sensitive or Uncomfortable

In some cases, it’s best to move away from topics that could cause tension:

• “Let’s discuss that at a more appropriate time.”
• “That’s a complex issue—we might need more time for that.”
• “Let’s take that offline and focus on our priorities now.”
• “Maybe we can revisit that in another meeting.”
• “For now, let’s shift focus to…”

✅ Example: “That might be better for a separate conversation. For now, let’s focus on the client updates.”

Using These Phrases Shows Strong Communication Skills

By using phrases to professionally change the topic, you keep discussions focused, respectful, and productive. These transitions allow you to manage time better, reduce tension, and show you can guide conversations effectively.

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