7 Tactical Ways to Avoid Interrupting Other People

It's unpleasant to be interrupted. But you don’t have to be rude or raise your voice – there are several ways to get out of this situation with dignity.




Imagine a situation: you are in an important meeting, sharing a valuable idea, and suddenly a colleague starts talking over your voice. Familiar? Studies show that the average person interrupts a conversation every 11 seconds. It’s not just impoliteness – it’s a serious communication problem that can undermine your confidence and credibility.
Psychologists from Stanford University have found that people who are often interrupted, begin to speak less confidently, shorten their statements and over time may generally remain silent in the group. But the good news is that there are effective techniques to help you maintain control of the conversation without resorting to aggression or raising your voice.



Fact: Women are interrupted 2.8 times more often than men, and introverts suffer 40% more extroverts


Understanding intermittent mechanisms
Before learning how to protect yourself, it’s important to understand why people interrupt. Neuropsychologists distinguish several types of interruptive behavior: impulsive (uncontrollable desire to speak out), dominant (the desire to control the conversation), cooperative (attempting to help or complement), and defensive (response to a perceived threat).
A study from George Washington University found that 67 percent of interruptions occur unconsciously. This means that people often don’t even realize they’re violating your right to speak. Understanding this will help you choose the right response strategy.


Key insight: Most interruptions are not a personal attack on you, but a consequence of poor communication habits or the emotional state of the interlocutor.


Seven proven protection techniques

1st
Bridge technique
This technique is about creating a smooth transition that allows you to keep control of the conversation. When interrupted, use bridge phrases such as “It’s an interesting thought, and it’s related to what I wanted to say...”, “Yes, and in addition to that...” or “Let me finish the thought, and then I’ll happily discuss your question.”
Example of application: You: Our department showed a 15% increase in sales thanks to the new strategy. . . ?
Colleague: Here's our department. . . ?
You: That's great, and it just reinforces my next thought that this strategy is worth scaling. . . ?





2.
Nonverbal Stop Technique
Sometimes gestures speak louder than words. Raise your hand with your palm forward in a universal stop gesture, while maintaining eye contact and a calm facial expression. This gesture should be decisive, but not aggressive. Say, “Let me finish” or “One second.”
Studies show that a properly executed stop gesture works 78% of the time because it activates ancient mechanisms of social submission.


3
Anchor phrase technique
Create a pre-prepared phrase that will serve as an anchor to return to your topic. For example, “As I have already begun to say...” or “Going back to my thought...” The key is to pronounce this phrase confidently and a little louder than the usual tone.
Anchor phrases for different situations: Business meeting: "Let me conclude the presentation of this item"
• Friendly conversation: "Let me finish, it's important"
• Family conversation: "I need to finish the thought"



4.
Recognition and Redirection
Briefly acknowledge the words of the person interrupting you, and then redirect your attention back to your topic. It shows that you have heard the other person, but are not willing to give up your right to say, “I understand your point of view, and it is important that I finish my thought.”


The ability to control a conversation is not about dominance. This is about mutual respect and creating space for a quality dialogue.


5
Temporary pause technique
Take a deliberate pause for 2-3 seconds, look at the person interrupting you, and then calmly say, “Let me finish the thought.” This pause creates psychological tension and draws the attention of all participants in the conversation to the situation.
Neuropsychologists explain the effectiveness of this technique by the fact that an unexpected pause activates mirror neurons in listeners, forcing them to focus on you.




6
Time-sharing strategy
Offer a clear structure to the conversation: “Let’s do this – I’ll finish my thought and then pass the word on to you.” This will take approximately two minutes.” This approach is especially effective in business communication, as it shows your organization and respect for the time of others.


7
The Emotional Mirror Technique
Mirror the emotional state of the interlocutor, but in a calmer tone: I see that you are excited about this topic, and it is also important for me to share my thoughts. Let us discuss this in order.” This technique is especially effective when interruptions occur due to emotional arousal.


Prevention of interruptions

The best way to deal with interruptions is to prevent them. Psychologists recommend using the “alarm” technique: at the beginning of the statement, indicate its structure and approximate duration. For example, "I want to share three observations, it'll take about five minutes."
It is also important to develop active listening skills. Paradoxically, people who show attention to the words of others are less likely to become victims of interruptions. This is due to the principle of reciprocity in psychology - people tend to respond in kind to shown respect for them.


Remember: the goal is not to never interrupt anyone, but to create a balance in communication, where each participant can fully express their thoughts.


Cultural characteristics and context

It is important to take into account the cultural characteristics of communication. In some cultures, interruptions are considered a sign of interest and active participation in conversation. In others, it is a serious breach of etiquette. Learn the communicative norms of your environment and adapt the techniques accordingly.
For example, in Scandinavian countries, pauses are longer and interruptions are rare. In Mediterranean cultures, fast-paced speech and intermittent dialogue are the norm. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right behavioral strategy.


Conclusion
The ability to defend your right to speak is not just a communication skill, it is a tool for self-respect and professional growth. Practice these techniques gradually, starting with less stressful situations.
Remember: the purpose of these methods is not to dominate the conversation, but to create a level playing field for all participants in the dialogue. When you’re defending your right to speak, you’re also defending the principles of respectful communication that benefit the whole group.
Developing these skills takes time and practice. Start with one or two techniques, bring them to automatism, and then gradually expand your arsenal. The main thing is to act confidently, but without aggression, maintaining respect for the interlocutors and themselves.



Glossary
Assertiveness The ability to defend their rights and interests without violating the rights of others. The middle ground between aggressiveness and passivity.

Mirror neurons Special nerve cells that are activated both when performing an action and when observing this action in others. The basis of empathy and imitation.

Nonverbal communication Transmission of information without the use of words: through gestures, facial expressions, posture, tone of voice and other non-verbal signals.

Reciprocity The psychological principle that people tend to respond to the actions of others with similar actions (good for good, respect for respect).

Active hearing Communication technique, in which the listener fully concentrates on the speaker, shows interest and gives feedback.

Anchor phrase Pre-prepared phrase that helps to regain control of the conversation and direct it in the right direction.