Inc Online October 2, 2020 “Keep Getting Interrupted: Here Are 7 Smart Ways to Fight Back” “Having someone talk over you can be infuriating. You don’t have to suffer in silence” by Mina Zetlin
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A recent event, you might have experienced as well, prompted 2244’s interest in this piece. Inc informs that “there are effective tactics you can use to shut down chronic interrupters, as least long enough to get your own point across.” 2244 emphasizes “chronic interrupters” and notes in their experience a well-thought-out question or comment can help the audience understand what you are trying to convey.
1. “Discourage interruptions before they happen”. According to Laura Rose, workplace consultant, suggests “There are a lot of different pieces to this explanation, so please bear with me.” Let the audience know you’ll be interested in their input afterward.
2. “Ask the rest of the group for input.” If plagued by a repeat interrupter then interject “We’ve heard from Sam a few times, does anyone else have anything to contribute?”
3. “Ask yourself if the interruption has value”. Some interrupters are smart, got your line and want to speed up the conversation. Listening carefully, asking some clarifying questions, shows that you are interested in the topic and not just yourself and you may “gain valuable insight.”
4. “Play ‘Verbal Chicken’.” “When someone interrupts you, just keep talking.” Hopefully they back-off soon and when they do “jump to your strongest point…so you can re-engage everyone’s attention.”
5. “Ask if you can finish.” Some say this and pound on the table, no doubt at wit’s end, but others soften it like “Hang on a sec, let me finish just one thought.”
6. “Pretend to ask a question”. “As the interrupter talks on, cut in by saying, ‘Can I ask you a question?’ Getting a pause from the inquiring mind, “don’t ask a question. Return to your original point instead. You can disguise it as a question by preceding it with ‘Do you realized that…”
7. “Just start laughing” “Not a little chuckle, a full laugh so that they can hear you.” It’s distracting to them…they don’t know what’s so funny but it may “throw them off their train.” And if they ask what’s so funny? “I find it hilarious how badly you’ve misunderstood the issues”, or “The way you refuse to let me speak just cracks me up.”