4 Ways to Interrupt Someone (Politely) | Inc.com

2. Apologize for the interruption. ... What it looks like: "I'm really sorry for interrupting, but..." Even if it's necessary, you're likely still ... logoLoginnavigationTopStoriesTopVideosGettyImagesYoushouldn'tinterrupt.Yes,fromanearlyage,you'reremindedthatcuttingpeopleoffwhenthey'respeakingisrude.But,let'sfaceit--therearetimeswhenyouneedtostopsomeonemid-sentence.Maybehekeepscitinganincorrectfactorstatisticthatyouthinkneedstoberemediedimmediately.Or,perhapsyouhaveaquestionaboutsomethingthatwasjustsaid.Situationslikethesecanbetrickytonavigate.Youwanttochimeinwhilethemomentisright.But,atthesametime,youdon'twanttoseeminconsiderate.Fortunately,thereareafewhelpfultacticsyoucanusetointerruptsomeone--withoutseeminglikeaconversationalsteamroller.1.Askforpermissiontojumpin.Whatitlookslike:"CanIinterruptforamoment?"Oneofthebestwaystospeakupwhensomeoneelseisalreadytalkingistoexplicitlyaskforpermissiontodoso.Notonlyisitagoodwaytogaugewhetherornotyou'remakingacontributionatadecenttime(there'snothingworsethanmakingsomeonelosetheirtrainofthought!),butitalsoacknowledgesthefactthatyou'reinterrupting--soyoudon'tseemlikeyoujustweren'tlistening.2.Apologizefortheinterruption.Whatitlookslike:"I'mreallysorryforinterrupting,but..."Evenifit'snecessary,you'relikelystillgoingtofeeluncomfortablecuttingsomeoneoff--regardlessofthecircumstances.So,whynotapologizerightoffthebat?Again,prefacingyourinterruptionwithsomethinglikethisrecognizesthefactthatyouknowthatyou'recommittingacommunicationfauxpas.Usedsparingly(aswithanyofthesetactics,nophrasewillgiveyouanexcusetointerruptconstantly!),itwillallowyoutospeakupwithoutseemingcondescending.3.Chimeinwitharelevantpoint.Whatitlookslike:"Whilewe'reonthattopic..."Interruptionsaren'tinherentlybad--infact,sometimestheycanmakethediscussionevenstronger.But,whentheyleadaconversationtotallyofftrack?They'reboundtoannoythepersonwhowastalking,aswellasanyoneelseparticipatinginthatchat.So,beforechimingin,makesurethatyourinterruptionisrelevanttothepointthat'sbeingdiscussed.Ifnot?You'rebetteroffwaitinguntilthatpersonisfinished.Thatway,youcanbesuretocontributetotheconversationathand--ratherthandetractfromit.4.Laygroundrulesfromthebeginning.Whatitlookslike:"Wouldyoupreferthatweholdourquestionsandsuggestionsuntiltheend?"Sometimes,nomatterhowmanyclevertacticsorphrasesyouutilize,aninterruptionwillneverbeperceivedaspolite.Whensomeoneisinthemiddleofapresentation,forexample,speakingupwillonlyservetomakeyoulookrude.Thisiswhyit'ssohelpfultosetcommonexpectationsfromthebeginning.Beforethatpersongetsstarted,askwhatheorshewouldprefer.Somepeopleenjoywhenotherschimeinatrandommoments,asittakessomeofthepressureoff.But,otherspreferthatyouholdyourcontributionsuntiltheend.Makesureyou'reinthelooponthatspecificperson'swishes,andyou'llbeabletoadjustyourownapproachaccordingly.Inanidealworld,you'dbeabletoavoideverhavingtointerrupt.But,sometimesit'snecessary.Useone(oracombinationof!)thesefourtactics,andyou'llbeabletospeakupinawaythat'spoliteandprofessional.Jul27,2017SponsoredBusinessContent