It starts with a good reason, any reason will do. "I have a meeting with a client," "I have a family emergency," "I left my cat on the stove." The more outlandish, the more convincing.
The art of justification is not just about the words, it's about the delivery. A well-placed eye roll, a raised eyebrow, a well-timed whisper of "I really must go."
It's not always about escaping a meeting, it's about preserving one's sanity. And sometimes that means justifying the opt-out, with science and art combined.