It takes more than a dating app to be ghosted. It happens all the time in professional interactions, and the consequences are subtle.
A sudden silence can easily shatter your confidence and leave you feeling confused and rejected when you’re trying to build a network. You’re stuck retracing your steps to figure out where you went wrong, or worse, in limbo, unsure whether or not to follow up.

So, why do people disappear?
There are many reasons for this, but the most common is to avoid conflict or awkward situations. This could be due to social anxiety, burnout, or, in the worst-case scenario, carelessness.

Whatever it is, people who ghost are frequently unwittingly following Sigmund Freud’s classic pleasure principle. Motivated by a desire for pleasure while avoiding pain, “ghosts” are prone to abandoning interactions at the first sign of discomfort.

You might be a ghost if you’re reading this and cringing even slightly. (Wait, what? According to research, most of us have been one at some point in our lives, whether personally or professionally.)

Know that your dangling conversations can, in fact, end happily. Here’s an example of how to contact someone you’ve forgotten about.

“Hello, [Name] — I’m so sorry for leaving our last conversation unfinished. By now, you’ve most likely landed a fantastic job or are preoccupied with other projects!

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