Simply reminding your conversation partner of how much time you have left together (or how much time you’ve spent on a possibly irrelevant topic) can be enough to help them see where they need to direct their attention. Try, for instance: It’s getting late; should we chat about . . . ? The [café closes, train arrives, meeting ends] in thirty minutes; let’s cover . . . first. I want to be mindful of your time; let’s talk through . . . now. We’re halfway through our time together—should we prioritize talking about . . . ?
