Photo by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.
If you have an infuriating coworker that won’t stop interrupting you, it’s time to go on the offensive. The next time you have something important you want say, try this.
Sometimes stopping an interrupting jerk is about making the first move. According to Francesca Gino, professor at Harvard Business School and author of Sidetracked, you should essentially tell them when they’re allowed to interrupt:
…before you start talking, preview what you plan to say and stipulate when it’s ok to break in. Workplace consultant Laura Rose suggests saying, “There are a lot of different pieces to this explanation, so please bear with me. I want to tell you the entire story. Then I want us to wrap around and get your thoughts on specific details.”
This approach can stop an interrupter dead in their tracks. They know they will be able to get a word in edgewise at some point, so they won’t feel the need to interject. For more tips on dealing with interrupting coworkers, check out the link below.
[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/09/five-ways-to-politely-deal-with-people-who-keep-interrupting-you/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/vt7jm4nbtaev77ylrzvt.png” title=”Five Ways To Politely Deal With People Who Keep Interrupting You” excerpt=””I’ve been giving it some thought,” I said in a team meeting at one of my previous jobs, “And I really think the partner listings on our website would function better if we — ” “Let me jump in,” interjected one of my co-workers, before I was even able to finish my thought and put my idea out on the table.”]
How to Handle Interrupting Colleagues [Harvard Business Review]
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