Buzz
While some interruptions can be essential—like when someone drones on endlessly at an awards ceremony—most instances of one person cutting off another are rude and frustrating. Unfortunately, certain individuals are chronic interrupters, and no matter how often it’s pointed out, they never seem to stop.
Luckily for us, writer and podcast producer Rose Eveleth—someone who’s often on both sides of the interview—has shared a few insights on how to handle interrupters. Here’s her advice.
What to do when someone won’t stop speaking over you
In addition to Eveleth, we also owe thanks to the Recomendo newsletter, which featured her tactics in a recent issue. Here’s what they shared:
Ditch subtlety
You won’t make progress by being polite or subtle, so don’t waste time hoping the other person will realize their actions. (They won’t.)
Don’t wait for a break in the conversation
Eveleth emphasizes twice that when you’re up against an interrupter, there are no natural pauses in the conversation—so don’t wait for one, or assume it will happen. (It won’t.) Instead, she offers this useful tip:
“Begin speaking just before your conversation partner finishes their thought,” she advises. “Don’t wait for them to actually finish. Don’t let them pause and wonder, ‘Am I really done?’ Because the answer is always no.”
The sneaky question move
Interrupt the speaker with a simple “Jim (or whatever their name is), can I ask you something?” This often makes them eager to speak even more and elaborate on something. Once they pause for your question, jump right back into what you were saying or introduce your new point.
Name dropping technique
Struggling to get a word in? Start repeating the interrupter’s name (e.g. “Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim.”). According to Eveleth, this is a powerful tactic because it highlights the interruption, and addressing them by name signals that you’re directly speaking to them.
Eventually, they’ll have no choice but to acknowledge you, which opens up the opportunity for you to speak and highlight that they’ve been talking over you the entire time.
The laughter diversion
As a last resort, Eveleth recommends laughing out loud when they interrupt you. “Not a soft giggle, but a full laugh that they can hear,” she writes. “It’s incredibly distracting because they won’t know what’s funny, and it’s likely to fluster them enough to derail their train of thought.”
