Your colleague keeps interrupting in meetings. How can you effectively address this behavior?

My professor quoted this example in class. Being interrupted is a common phenomenon for women! Her being in a senior position also experienced this. She generally stops the person who has interrupted and makes sure that she continues. This kind of set the tone for her, that she shall not be interrupted.

Understanding 'Why' is the key to getting to a solution to the situation. Understanding the mindset of the colleague will help in seeing things from his/her perspective and also gain insight to the overall process ( if something is missing or can be bettered) from a different point of view. I personally believe that knowing reference to the context is vital for any connect to develop

I agree that making people aware that they are interrupting is usually a good way of making them do it less. In some cultures however it is not as frowned upon and is considered as part of the way of speaking with each other. I had a colleague from another country than my own who interrupted me constantly but with no harm intended; he was simply eager to express his view and share that he agreed or disagreed with me. When I told him, in a private conversation afterwards, that I did not appreciate it it made him regretful, and much more aware of his behavior. He has now become a much better listener and even more so, many others appreciate what he says when he speaks in meetings. So a win win if you ask me!

Understand the pattern of disruption meaning the points raised and without being aggressive, use logical arguments to set the pattern straight and then use normative and moral discourse of integrity to take charge of the discussion .

Addressing interrupting behavior is best handled in a private, respectful manner. A one-on-one setting avoids public embarrassment and fosters open communication. Frame your observations around the impact on meeting productivity rather than the individual's actions. For instance, "When interruptions occur, it disrupts our flow and makes it harder to achieve our goals." Focus on collaboration and maintaining productive and respectful meetings can help your colleague see the value in adjusting their behavior.

This private setting allows for an open dialogue without putting your colleague on the spot in front of others. During this conversation, you can express your observations and explain how the interruptions impact the meeting's productivity. Make sure to use "you" statements sparingly to avoid sounding accusatory. Instead, focus on the effects of the behavior and your desire for more collaborative meetings. For example, you might say, "I've noticed that during our meetings, there are frequent interruptions, which can disrupt the flow of discussion and make it harder for everyone to contribute their ideas." By framing your concerns this way, you highlight the behavior's impact rather than attacking the person.

El establecer reglas claras desde el inicio es de suma importancia y que cada integrante se comprometa con saber y/ o aclarar el objetivo de cada reunión antes de iniciar, también considero importante el permitir un espacio con tiempo controlado para que cada integrante se exprese, no perdiendo el enfoque del motivo de cada reunión.

To address a colleague’s interrupting behavior in meetings, arrange a private discussion to address the issue directly. Beginning the conversation by expressing your concerns in a non-confrontational manner, focusing on how the interruptions impact the team and meeting efficiency rather than criticizing the individual personally. Use examples to illustrate the behavior and its effects. Offer constructive feedback and suggest practical solutions, such as waiting for others to complete their thoughts before speaking. Emphasize the importance of respectful communication and collaboration, and encourage an open dialogue to see any underlying issues. This can help resolve the issue professionally and preserves a positive working relationship.

Private discussions also helps to understand your teammate without putting them on the spot light. This way you two can reach a common ground.

Executive Coaching through this habit is hard. Best advice I’ve employed to help stop others from interrupting during conversations, is to start by recognizing it’s often unintentional. Acknowledge that interruptions can disrupt discussions and seem disrespectful, stressing the importance of effective communication. Encourage active listening: fully concentrate on the speaker and wait for them to finish. Use visual cues like maintaining eye contact and pausing before responding. Practice patience by processing the speaker’s message before replying. Seek feedback from trusted colleagues to improve. And, set an example by not interrupting and responding appropriately. Personal incentives help motivate too!

An alternative can include having a digital or physical question board that people can add to, or even something as basic as having pen and paper in front of all participants. These practical approaches allow participants to remove the internal distraction and raise it when appropriate.

Implement techniques like round-robin or hand-raising to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute without interruptions. Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) suggests that structured turn-taking improves group decision-making and increases participation from all members.

This may be caused by the interruptor not feeling heard. One effective tactic is to jump right in to say something like - “thanks John, if I may have a moment just to finish this thought?” Those who do this well use body language like a smile and an upbeat tone vs. sounding angry or irritated. This will often disarm the interruptor and let you regain control of the dialog. A second tactic is to discuss this with your colleague offline, making it clear that you both have valuable contributions and it’s best to orchestrate together vs. interrupting. Perhaps nonverbal signals/gestures to each other could be developed to use in the meeting- proactively letting your colleague know they will have a chance to be heard.

To address this behavior, first, recognize patterns to understand if interruptions stem from enthusiasm, a desire to contribute, or unawareness of etiquette. This helps tailor your approach. Have a respectful one-on-one conversation to explain how interruptions affect productivity and suggest a more collaborative approach. Offer alternatives like noting thoughts to share at designated times or establishing a signal for contributions. Set clear meeting guidelines, such as raising hands to speak, to ensure balanced participation. Foster a culture of open feedback to address disruptive behaviors collectively. Regularly check in on improvements, acknowledge positive changes, and offer support.

From my own experience, setting these guidelines can be incredibly effective. These rules should be agreed upon by all participants and might include directives like raising hands before speaking or using a talking stick. Ground rules help create a structure that promotes respect and equal participation. For instance, in one of my previous teams, we implemented a rule where everyone had to signal their intent to speak by raising their hand. This simple practice ensured that everyone had a chance to contribute without being overshadowed by more vocal colleagues. Another technique we used was the talking stick, which only allowed the person holding it to speak.

The person who is planning the meeting is responsible for setting: Clear expectations, ground rules, and understanding the flow of the meeting — including free-flowing dialogue, or Q&A at the end. I have found that many constant interruptions are the result of vague guidelines and meeting boundaries at the outset of meetings. If stakeholders know they have a chance to provide feedback or questions at the end or at certain points during the meeting, it can help curb interruptions.

Work in project management which involves facilitation of meetings, my one experience is when one of my colleagues tried to talk throughout the entire session to point out how good she was in the topic we were engaging in of course first I let her speak due to the respect we are colleague but I become too much since she was blocking others from speaking so I let another person interject me then I reminded them of ground rules this was for a polite way to show not her alone was interrupting and everyone should have some order plus ensure other people points matter

Les règles rappellent à l'ordre. Cela aide à conditionner et permet aussi d'établir de fa?on consensuelle ce qu'il faut faire et ce qu'il ne faut pas faire pour gagner en efficacité pendant la réunion.

Interruptions can derail productive meetings, so I've developed a strategy to manage them effectively. First, I recognize patterns to understand if interruptions stem from enthusiasm, a desire to contribute, or unawareness of etiquette. This insight helps me tailor my approach. During meetings, I set clear guidelines like raising hands or using signals to speak, and I explain the importance of these rules in maintaining a productive and respectful environment. I ensure everyone understands and agrees with the rules, fostering an inclusive atmosphere where all voices are heard. I also suggest alternatives, like noting thoughts to share at designated times, showing that I value input while maintaining order.

Encourage Participation Outside Meetings Create additional channels for input, such as follow-up emails or collaborative platforms where team members can share their ideas after meetings. A study by McKinsey & Company found that providing multiple avenues for participation can lead to more comprehensive and inclusive decision-making.

Help your colleague become more aware of their behavior. Suggest they monitor their own actions and self-regulate. You could say, Maybe you could try to observe when you feel the urge to interrupt and take a moment to consider if it’s the right time to speak.

Para fortalecer a cultura de feedbacks na sua equipe, compartilhe os materiais da apresenta??o com antecedência. Isso demonstra que você valoriza a contribui??o de todos e permite que ofere?am suas perspectivas de forma assíncrona, enriquecendo o conteúdo e minimizando as interrup??es durante a reuni?o. Incentive também a realiza??o de reuni?es que utilizam ferramentas colaborativas como Miro ou Mural. Essas ferramentas n?o só promovem a participa??o e contribui??o de todos como tornam esse o tema central do encontro, e também ajudam a organizar as ideias de maneira visual.

If the behavior persists, discuss the issue with your manager or HR. They can provide additional support and reinforce the importance of respectful communication within the team. Approach leadership with a solution-oriented mindset, emphasizing the benefits of a more cohesive and respectful meeting environment

Monitor the situation over time to see if there’s improvement. If the behavior persists, you may need to revisit the conversation or involve a mediator or supervisor to reinforce the agreed-upon norms.

Start by evaluating your meeting structure. Poorly structured meetings can contribute to interruptions. Clearer agendas, more focused topics, and short meetings, they all help. For those who interrupt with off-topic ideas introduce a “parking lot” system where these ideas are noted for later discussions. Interruptions can stem from various factors, including cultural differences, personality traits, or even undiagnosed conditions like ADHD. Understanding the underlying cause can help tailor your approach more effectively. If interruptions are a widespread issue, consider team wide training. However, interruptions often reflect underlying power dynamics. If the interrupter is in a position of authority, it may require a different approach.

Consider neurodiversity as well. I know several neurodivergent colleagues and friends who do this inadvertently due to the way brains process info, and I never take offense (and appreciate the grace as well when my own brain is going at the speed of a freight train sometimes in comparison to the dialogue).

I’ve encountered this situation before, and addressing it professionally is crucial. Here’s what worked for me: I scheduled a private meeting with my colleague to discuss the interruptions, focusing on how it affected team dynamics and productivity. I provided specific examples to illustrate the impact and suggested guidelines for meeting etiquette, such as allowing each person to finish speaking before others chime in. We agreed on these norms and I reminded the team at the next meeting without singling anyone out. By addressing the issue privately and setting clear expectations, our meetings became more productive and collaborative.

Se positionner en tant que time keeper et proposer aux participants de noter la pertinence d'une réunion ou d'un workshop en fin de séance (ROTI), ce qui permettra d'améliorer les suivantes.