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Inconsiderate Actions Feedback Meetings Communication Self-Insight Interrupting

When we have departmental meetings, there is one person who interrupts me whenever I am speaking, and his comments usually have noting to do with what I was saying. I get upset and distracted by this, and I don't know how to deal with it.



When dealing with an associate who may need to spend more time listening to others and less time listening to himself, the first place to look is actually at yourself. In a word, is your colleague jumping in as soon as you start to speak, or is he doing so after you have taken several minutes to make a ten second point? That would not excuse his behavior, but it may help explain it.

If this associate simply ignores the fact that you have the floor and starts speaking whenever he wants, your first step is to mention the matter to him in private right after the meeting. Give him a brief replay of what happened and tell him that you would appreciate his holding back until you are done.

If he does it again, you should not simply stop talking. Rather, in a firm and businesslike tone, look directly at him and say, "Excuse me. I wasn't finished." Then continue with what you were going to say.

You should also mention the problem to your manager. However, since part of his or her job is to run open and productive departmental meetings, one has to wonder why your manager allowed a verbal bully to push you around. In such a case, it would have been entirely acceptable for your manager to interrupt the interrupter.




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