Communicating in the 21st Century: How to Interrupt Someone

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With communication being fast and furious, we do need to interrupt at times, and we have all been interrupted. Have you had the experience of someone interrupting you when you felt uncomfortable, unable to regain your momentum or make your point later, disrespected, offended or even shamed? By contrast, have you been interrupted where you felt ok about it or didn’t even notice you were interrupted?

That’s the Art of the Interruption.

When to Interrupt:

If time is limited and someone is getting a group off track.
If you are losing interest in the speaker 1-1 and you don’t want to “drift off.”
If the person you are talking to is making incorrect assumptions or going in a direction you feel is wrong. After a certain period of time, the person may come to the conclusion that you agree if you don’t say something.
If the person knew there was a time limit and didn’t self monitor and end as expected.
If you are the facilitator or manager, and it’s your job to keep things on track.

When NOT to Interrupt:

If you have an idea and can’t wait to share it, but someone else is talking.
If someone is speaking to a group, and you have questions or disagree.
If you can easily talk to the person about the issue later or ask questions after.
If you are not the facilitator and it’s someone else’s job to keep things on track.

THE KEY to INTERRUPTION is HAVING A GOOD REASON TO DO IT.

If you are just afraid you will forget a comment, jot it down and wait until the appropriate time. You want to be respectful whenever possible, but know how to interrupt when necessary.

What to say when you interrupt:

Raise your hand or make an attempt to demonstrate your desire to interrupt before talking.
Use the person’s first name when you start.
Say something positive about what the person was saying or the general topic.
Explain briefly why you are interrupting (what is your concern).
Ask for something specific. If possible, ask the person you interrupted to continue.

Examples:

“Jim, you are making some great points. I just noticed we only have 15 minutes left. Would you be able to wrap up now and entertain some questions from the audience?”

“Kathy, your presentation is spot-on and the content is excellent. The challenge is some people in the back can’t hear you very well. Could you speak a little louder or use a mic?”

“Victor, the idea you are sharing is very relevant to this audience. I notice, however, that you are losing a few people who didn’t understand the terms you mentioned earlier. Would you mind defining them quickly before you proceed?”

“Kathleen, the resources you mention sound very valuable. However, I realize you may not be aware that many of the attendees today don’t live in this area. Could you give us some suggestions on how to get resources for those who live in other locations or outside the US?”

“David, this subject is fascinating to many of us. The problem is many of us don’t have the funding for this type of a project. Can you speak to what the options are for those who are interested, but need to seek funding to make these kinds of ventures happen?”

How do you know if an interruption went well?

When you interrupt someone, if the group goes to a better place as a result, you are likely responsible. The speaker may not always appreciate an interruption, but the audience will often silently thank you for getting things back on track!

Want some communication coaching? Reach out to us!

THE KEY to INTERRUPTION is HAVING A GOOD REASON TO DO IT.

Raise your hand or make an attempt to demonstrate your desire to interrupt before talking.

Use the person’s first name when you start.

Say something positive about what the person was saying or the general topic.

Explain briefly why you are interrupting (what is your concern).

Ask for something specific. If possible, ask the person you interrupted to continue.

How do you know if an interruption went well?

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