Wed 07 July 2021
How to Respond When You’re Interrupted in a Meeting
No one likes to be interrupted, and when it happens in a meeting, it can be hard to know how to respond. Do you just let it go? Or do you speak up? Your reaction will depend on who is doing the interrupting.
(a) When a peer interrupts you, think about why they’re interrupting you in the first place. Consider their objective. If it’s to change the topic or get you to stop talking, you might say something like, “I’d like to finish my point. This is an important topic and I want to make sure that everyone is informed.” Acknowledge your colleague, but make sure you finish your point before conceding the floor. If the situation gets awkward or stressful, consider reaching out afterward to clarify your intentions and smooth things over.
(b) On the other hand, if you find yourself interrupted by your manager or someone in a more senior role, wait for the meeting to finish. Then, reach out to them afterwards to schedule a one-on-one catch-up. You can say, “I noticed that you had some feedback. Is there something I could have done differently?” Hopefully together you can figure out how to be better aligned — and avoid interruptions — in the next meeting.
This tip is adapted from “How to Manage Interruptions in Meetings,” by Harrison Monarth
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