Managing a Coworker Who Is Constantly Interrupting

Tired of being talked over? 1. Get yourself a meeting buddy. Having someone who'll say "Hey, let's hear Bryan finish his thought" is a game-changer. Be that person for others too. 2. Don't back down when interrupted. A simple "I'd like to finish my point" works better than you'd think. Yes, it feels awkward at first. Do it anyway. 3. Put your ideas in writing before any meeting. Can't talk over a doc! When someone repeats or ignores your point, you can say "Yes, as I mentioned in my doc on line 37" Most important thing I've learned? This isn't a "you" problem. You don't need to be louder or more aggressive. You just need to hold your ground.

The line between assertiveness and aggression isn’t that blurry. Nearly 80% of employees report experiencing incivility at work, and it’s not just unpleasant, it’s costly. Disrespect leads to decreased performance, emotional withdrawal, and spikes in turnover. (Source: Harvard Business Review) In my work with leaders, I often hear: “I didn’t mean to come across that way.” But intention doesn’t erase impact. So here’s a reframe: -Disagreement is healthy. -Disrespect is not. If someone is repeatedly interrupting you, talking over you, or dismissing your ideas, it’s not a personality quirk. It’s a communication breach. You can respond with: -“You’ve cut me off several times now. If this continues, I’ll have to walk away.” -“We can disagree without being disrespectful.” -“Let’s take a breath. I’m here to engage, not to be spoken over.” These aren’t confrontations. They’re boundaries. Let’s normalize leadership that makes room for others to speak and actually be heard. Cheering you on. #Leadership #ExecutivePresence #EmotionalIntelligence 

Raise your hand if you’ve been interrupted mid-sentence - especially in a meeting full of men. 🙋🏽♀️ It happens more often than we’d like to admit. Women are often interrupted, ignored, or talked over, and it can feel frustrating, demoralizing, and exhausting. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here's how you can assertively take back the conversation and maintain control: 1. Pause: Don’t just keep talking. Pause, make eye contact, and say something like, “I’d like to finish my thought,” or “I wasn’t done speaking.” This sets a boundary without aggression. 2. Be silent: If someone interrupts you, let there be a brief moment of silence. This gives you space to reassert control and shows confidence in your words. 3. Repeat: If you’re cut off, calmly restate your point and say, “As I was saying…” This gently reminds everyone that your contribution deserves to be heard. 4. Use your body language: Be intentional with your posture. Sit up straight, hold your ground, and use confident gestures to reinforce your presence in the conversation. 5. Involve others: If the interruptions continue, invite others into the conversation to back you up. You can say, “I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, [name], after I finish.” Remember: You belong at the table, and your voice matters. Interruptions don’t show how credible you are. They show that others need to respect your boundaries. And you need to be confident in setting them. Don’t let anyone take that away from you. P.S. Have you experienced being interrupted in meetings? How do you handle it?

Your silence in the face of disrespect Isn't professionalism. It's permission. You spent years believing that "taking it" was part of climbing the ladder. You watched colleagues speak over you, Claim your ideas, And dismiss your contributions while you smiled politely, Thinking this was the price of advancement. You were wrong. The most respected professionals I know aren't those who tolerate everything. They're those who clearly communicate what they will and won't accept. 10 Power Moves after Being Disrespected 1. When someone undermines you publicly: "I'd prefer to discuss any concerns about my work privately first." → Establishes that your professional reputation matters. 2. When someone interrupts you constantly: "I'd like to finish my point, then I'm happy to hear yours." → Creates space for both voices without escalating tension. 3. When inappropriate comments arise: "That's not appropriate. Let's focus on the work." → Simple. Direct. Effective. No drama needed. 4. When your boundaries get bulldozed: "That doesn't work for me. Here's what I can do instead." → Stays solution-oriented while maintaining your limits. 5. When they push after you've said no: "I've already given you my answer on this. I'm not going to revisit it today." → Shows you won't be worn down by persistence. 6. When your ideas get dismissed: "Can you help me understand your concerns with this approach?" → Transforms dismissal into dialogue and forces substantive feedback. 7. When someone speaks condescendingly: "I need you to speak to me with the same respect you'd show other colleagues." → Names the behavior without attacking the person. 8. When someone takes credit for your work: "I'm glad you appreciate that idea. When I initially proposed it last week, I had envisioned it developing exactly this way." → Reclaims ownership without direct accusation. 9. When someone consistently devalues your time: "My calendar is a reflection of my priorities. I need advance notice to ensure your needs get the attention they deserve." → Establishes that your time has value without rejecting collaboration. 10. When they gaslight your experience: "That's not how I experienced the situation. Let's stick to the facts we can both agree on." → Reclaims your reality without escalating to conflict. Your boundaries teach people how to work with you at your best. Without them, you'll always be working at less than your full potential. The most powerful career move isn't working longer hours or taking on more projects. . . It's having the courage to say "this is how I work best" and standing by it. ❓ What boundary do you wish you'd set earlier in your career? ♻️ Repost to help others who are being disrespected. ➕ Follow Nathan Crockett, PhD for more.

We will no longer be interrupted in meetings. We won’t let it slide, wait for them to finish, or wait for our turn to speak when there’s a pause. Nope. Not happening anymore. Because when someone interrupts you, it’s usually because: 👉🏿 They want to quickly takeover your idea 👉🏿 They feel the need to hear themselves talk to show value 👉🏿 They aren’t patient and don’t have strong listening skills 👉🏿 They want to dominate the conversation 👉🏿 They are fine with you having a seat at the table, but don’t like you contributing your ideas And more. And I learned the hard way, that when I say nothing. My silence allows this behavior to continue. Now when someone interrupts we can say: ✅ “I wasn’t done yet, please let me continue to sharing before interrupting” and interrupt back ✅ “Can you please let Mita finish?” and intervene on someone else’s behalf ✅ “Let’s give everyone a chance to share and contribute please before jumping in” and remind attendees on how they should behave Sure, sometimes we can interrupt someone by accident or in our excitement and talk over them. Or because there aren’t enough breaks in the conversation and we are trying hard to contribute. I have been guilty of interrupting and always try to apologize quickly in the moment. And when someone repeatedly interrupts, over & over again, it can be a tool to silence, dismiss and minimize others around the table. To make sure their voice is the loudest and has the most impact. How do you stop interruptions in meetings? Have you been interrupted and how have you handled it? #leadership #inclusion #culture #MitaMallick