Although moderate interruption during conversations is acceptable in daily life, a habit of interrupting every conversation around you could negatively impact people’s perception of you, and your connection with people.
None of us would like to be impatient, trying to jump into the conversation of others, without thinking twice. But, there are times, when we are very much eager to put forth what’s on our mind, without waiting for the other person to complete it. This results in undue interruption that could send a strong negative message to the person being cut off during a conversation.
Here’s what happens when one keeps interrupting conversations constantly:
You Appear Rude
Unless you are seeking clarification or helping the person transmit a message effectively which is a positive interruption that could promote effective communication, any other kind of interruption to prove your point makes you appear rude or egotistical.
Unexpected interruptions could make the conversing people feel that you don’t care about what others have to say or don’t consider it important to listen and allow others to finish their conversation. Although there are ways to politely interrupt if necessary, constantly doing so makes the interrupter look inconsiderate.
Potential for abuse
Constantly interrupting a conversation could make you look controlling or asserting dominance which could weaken relationships. Getting your point across doesn’t essentially require interruption. Waiting for your turn and getting your point across with grace and dignity keeps you from being misunderstood.
You may lose the chance to hear something that could prove your counterpoint wrong. This can further get you into trouble and negatively impact your relationship with people.
Being mindful during important discussions is imperative to avoid unnecessary stress to those involved, and have a fruitful conversation with positive outcomes.
Going Off-track
While you intend to get your message out by interrupting, you mustn’t walk all over the conversation, taking the entire discussion off-track and changing the direction of the topic.
When someone says ”I went to the fruit market yesterday” if you quickly reply by saying ”I love the mangoes you get there, in fact, I bought some last week, and they were so fresh!” there is a chance of the topic being directed towards discussing ‘mangoes’ instead of the ‘fruit market’ and what the person had to say about it.
This can gradually bring about irritation and resentment in relationships as people don’t feel heard or valued.
You miss important information
Listening before speaking helps you understand the speaker’s point of view, keeping you from saying something unrelated to the topic.
Listening helps you focus on the discussion and make positive interruptions if required, helping you build rapport and make a positive impact on the audience.
If you struggle with a habit of interrupting constantly, here are some strategies that could help:
- Keep yourself from rushing to add your point.
- Wait for the person to finish talking. Do not jump into the conversation.
- Instead of focusing on being interesting, focusing better on listening and being interested in learning the perspective of others.
- If your point doesn’t add much to the conversation, it is better to leave it unsaid.
- Wait to ask questions.
- Practice active listening without predicting what will be said next. This will keep you from reacting quickly and help you stay on track.
- Practice shared communication over your desire to speak.
Although changing a behavior or communication style takes time, practicing patience daily helps you have balanced and effective communication. When people feel heard, a conversation becomes fruitful and benefits the people involved, whether it’s the speaker or the audience.
How do handle constant interruptions in everyday life? Do share in the comments.