Interrupting

Many of us are guilty of interrupting other people while they are speaking.

Short version: Don’t do that. Just stop. Now.

Longer version:

Some of us interrupt because we’re impatient. They seem to be going on and on and we just want them to “land the plane already!”

Some of us interrupt because we want to help them express what we think they are trying to say. We interrupt to help them finish the thought or provide the word(s) we think they are trying to get but can’t.

Some of us interrupt because we think we know more about the topic than the speaker and want to correct them or prove to them that we are oh-so-smart-and-well-informed.

If you would like to get out of the habit of interrupting, start by honestly assessing WHY you do it. We usually do these things because they validate us as people — we are “go-getters” or “just trying to be helpful” or “smarter than the average bear.” In fact, we might be more than one of these.

Reframe the kind of person and kind of leader you want to be — include making others feel respected and valued. Interrupting is a very quick way to make someone feel disrespected. Listening with polite attention makes the other person feel appreciated. Leaders who are good listeners actually increase the respect and appreciation their team members have for them.

(image source: https://www.dayspringcommunications.net/blog/on-interrupting)