How to Stop Getting Interrupted

I still remember the meeting where I realized something had to change. 

I was sharing an idea when a colleague jumped in mid-sentence. Without even thinking, I stopped talking. Then, I waited politely, telling myself I’d finish my point once he wrapped up.

Except… the moment never came back around. The conversation moved on. My idea, including my preparation and my expertise, just evaporated. 

And I walked out feeling that familiar mix of frustration and self-blame: Why didn’t I speak up? Why did I freeze? Why does this keep happening?

I started to realize that every time I allowed an interruption to stand, I was reinforcing a belief that my voice could be set aside.

That’s when I made a promise to myself: I would stop training people to treat my voice as optional.

Because politeness has its place, but it should never cost you your power.

(And if you happen to be someone who interrupts, keep reading. Gaining perspective helps with expanding your leadership range.)

For some of us, we've been conditioned to believe that pushing back is not polite.

But here's the truth: When you can't hold your ground during interruptions, you're unconsciously sabotaging your authority and your credibility. Every time you stop mid-sentence when someone talks over you, you're teaching the room that your voice is negotiable. 

Learning to handle interruptions isn't about being aggressive. It's about recognizing that your perspective has value and deserves to be heard completely.

The goal is not to be aggressive, but to be unflappable.

How did I change?

I started paying attention to how other leaders handled interruptions. These people were not the loud ones who bulldozed, but the grounded, confident leaders who didn’t bristle or disappear. They stayed steady and held the floor without raising their volume. And when someone cut in, they didn’t shrink or apologize.

They simply reclaimed their space.

So I learned this approach and tried it.
 Instead of shutting down or waiting, I took a slow breath, looked directly at the person who interrupted me and said something simple like:

“Let me finish my point.”

Or, with their name: “Give me one moment, David.”

Or even just: “I’d like to complete my thought.”

None of it was delivered with irritation, just calm clarity. And I was signaling what I brought to the discussion mattered.

This kind of presence is what gets people to listen. It is also what gets leaders noticed for the right reasons.

Since then, I've learned a few more strategies for handling interruptions.

For example, before a high-stakes meeting, tell a trusted colleague, "I'm working on being more assertive. If I get cut off, would you be willing to step in with something like, 'I'd like to hear Stephanie finish her point'?"

It builds a culture of mutual support, and it teaches the room how to treat you and everyone else with more respect.

And there's one more subtle but powerful tactic: if an interruption starts, keep speaking for another beat or two before pausing. This tiny continuation often signals, "I'm not done," and it naturally prompts the other person to wait.

Handling interruptions isn't about being difficult or combative. It's about being strategic.

The person who can't handle interruptions is unconsciously asking: "How do I avoid conflict?" The person who handles them strategically is consciously asking: "How do I command respect while maintaining relationships?" That's the difference between force and power.

When you're operating from force, you might be yielding constantly, apologizing, and diminishing your own voice. When you're operating from power, you're making intentional choices about when to hold your ground.

Here are additional strategies I teach my clients:

Learn to pause. When interrupted, don't react immediately. Take a deliberate breath, then calmly redirect back to your point.

Name what's happening. In some situations, you can address the pattern directly: "I've noticed I've been interrupted a few times. I'd appreciate the chance to finish my thoughts before we move on."

Real career advancement requires fundamental honesty about how you're allowing yourself to be treated in professional settings. You can't perform your way to executive leadership while your voice is constantly being drowned out.

What's one step you'll take today to ensure your voice is being heard?

Watch my YouTube video:  Stop Being Ignored to learn tips to show up most effectively in virtual meetings: