What to say

What to say when someone interrupts you

The short answer: don't stop. Keep going, a little slower, and say "One second, let me finish." Then finish. Many interrupters don't notice they do it, so one calm sentence often ends it.

Say this

1. In the moment

   "One second, let me finish."

   Say it calmly, a little slower than before, then finish your sentence. Don't stop every time they knock.

2. Give them the next turn

   "Hold that thought, you're next."

   Most interrupters just can't wait. Knowing their turn is coming helps.

3. Afterwards, in private

   "I sometimes lose my point when we overlap in meetings. Could you let me finish, and I'll do the same for you?"

   A friendly word over coffee often works better than a hundred small fights in meetings.

Not this

• Stopping and waiting. The floor goes to them, and the room learns that it can.
• Raising your voice to talk over them. It turns into a contest the room remembers.
• "You always interrupt me!" in front of everyone. They defend themselves instead of changing.

On a video call

Overlaps are worse with a delay. Name it lightly:

"Sorry, I was mid-thought. Let me finish that, then over to you."