I realize this wouldn't work in a work situation, but -- when it happens in personal conversation (several times) -- I tend to just turn on my heel and walk off.
Invariably the interrupter will ask you where you're going, or some such. I just turn my head, look them in the eye and say, "Obviously you weren't interested in what I had to say. I'm not interested in listening to you, either." And keep walking.
[Keep right on talking. Fight fire with fire, suggests Kevin Sensenig, vice president of learning and development with Dale Carnegie Training.] ------------------------------------------ this works sometimes ... but even better is to just state at the beginning of a presentation ... for everyone to hold their questions to the end ... which some will invariably ignore ... to which you will re-iterate the 'wait to the end' preference.
by nohater July 23, 2012 5:05 PM EDT mostly run into people that just don't know when to shut up. they go on and on about anything, continually dominating conversation. these people have an opinion about everything, know everything, have done everything or know someone who has done whatever happens to be the topic. have handled by looking at my watch and saying, i'm late gotta go. when it's someone who outranks you in business, you're stuck listening to them pontificate.
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I know this might sound odd, but a lot of times those kind of people actually suffer from social anxiety disorder.
You usually think of people with social anxiety disorder as being the wallflowers who never open their mouth. But there are two sides to that disorder.
I have not noticed that interrupters are smarter than everyone else. Why make matters worse by telling rude people how smart they are? Time and again studies show that men interrupt women many times more often than they interrupt men, and men in general interrupt significantly more than women interrupt.
It is people who think (or know)they are higher status who believe they have the right to interrupt. It is a power play. Interrupters are no more likely to have fascinating things to say than than the average person. As others have pointed out, if they are higher ranking and love the sound of their own voice, it is often necessary to tolerate it.
My wife must have a higher status. She interrupts me all of the time. I have pointed it out to her enough times that I can raise my finger to let her know she did it again. We do laugh about it.
I have not noticed that interrupters are smarter than everyone else. Why make matters worse by telling rude people how smart they are? Time and again studies show that men interrupt women many times more often than they interrupt men, and men in general interrupt significantly more than women interrupt.
It is people who think or know)they are higher status who believe they have the right to interrupt. It is a power play. Interrupters are no more likely to have fascinating things to say than than the average person. As others have pointed out, if they are higher ranking and love the sound of their own voice, it is often necessary to tolerate it.
mostly run into people that just don't know when to shut up. they go on and on about anything, continually dominating conversation. these people have an opinion about everything, know everything, have done everything or know someone who has done whatever happens to be the topic. have handled by looking at my watch and saying, i'm late gotta go. when it's someone who outranks you in business, you're stuck listening to them pontificate.
"A chronic interrupter is often someone who is super-smart and whose brain is working much faster than the other people in the room. They want to keep everything moving at a faster clip, so often they will interrupt to make that happen,"
No different than a smart kid in the classroom. They're expected to dim their bright light so everyone else can see. Sad, really.
#6 - Step-up your game and rise to their level. Don't pull/slow them down. Perhaps you'll finally accomplish something. Or, as karek40 states, you can continue to have the "same drawn out discussions that most often lead nowhere."
Maybe the so-called "smart" kids could learn to tone their egos down and have some manners and consideration for others. Shouldn't be that difficult to LEARN how to do that if they're so dang smart.
I say call them out on their rudeness in a firm but polite way ("Excuse me, I'm not finished yet. I'd be more than happy to listen to your points without interrupting when I'm done.") Then don't back down. Too often these people are simply bullies with a mouth.
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Invariably the interrupter will ask you where you're going, or some such. I just turn my head, look them in the eye and say, "Obviously you weren't interested in what I had to say. I'm not interested in listening to you, either." And keep walking.
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this works sometimes ... but even better is to just state at the beginning of a presentation ... for everyone to hold their questions to the end ... which some will invariably ignore ... to which you will re-iterate the 'wait to the end' preference.
works like a charm.
mostly run into people that just don't know when to shut up. they go on and on about anything, continually dominating conversation. these people have an opinion about everything, know everything, have done everything or know someone who has done whatever happens to be the topic. have handled by looking at my watch and saying, i'm late gotta go. when it's someone who outranks you in business, you're stuck listening to them pontificate.
___________________________
I know this might sound odd, but a lot of times those kind of people actually suffer from social anxiety disorder.
You usually think of people with social anxiety disorder as being the wallflowers who never open their mouth. But there are two sides to that disorder.
7. propose marriage
It is people who think (or know)they are higher status who believe they have the right to interrupt. It is a power play. Interrupters are no more likely to have fascinating things to say than than the average person. As others have pointed out, if they are higher ranking and love the sound of their own voice, it is often necessary to tolerate it.
It is people who think or know)they are higher status who believe they have the right to interrupt. It is a power play. Interrupters are no more likely to have fascinating things to say than than the average person. As others have pointed out, if they are higher ranking and love the sound of their own voice, it is often necessary to tolerate it.
No different than a smart kid in the classroom. They're expected to dim their bright light so everyone else can see. Sad, really.
#6 - Step-up your game and rise to their level. Don't pull/slow them down. Perhaps you'll finally accomplish something. Or, as karek40 states, you can continue to have the "same drawn out discussions that most often lead nowhere."
I say call them out on their rudeness in a firm but polite way ("Excuse me, I'm not finished yet. I'd be more than happy to listen to your points without interrupting when I'm done.") Then don't back down. Too often these people are simply bullies with a mouth.