🎙️Stop Interruptions in Their Tracks—4 Phrases to Own Your Next Meeting

How many times have you been in a meeting, and the meeting gets misappropriated by a conversational pilferer🫢?

You know the type of person I’m talking about. The person who interrupts the flow of the meeting to interject their own ideas, opinions, and thoughts.

It’s not that they’re trying to be annoying. They just can’t seem to help themselves. They’re constantly interrupting and derailing the meeting.

And it’s not just you that they’re doing this to. They’re doing it to everyone in the meeting.

And this has to stop. You can’t afford to let these conversational hijackers derail another meeting. You have to stop them in their tracks. You have to take control of the meeting and bring it back on course.

Here are four phrases that are my go to:

This is a polite way to let someone know that you’re not done talking. It’s also a subtle way to remind them that they’re interrupting. If you’re a manager and find your employees are interrupting you in meetings, try using this phrase to set a good example.

The above phrase is the most direct way to tell someone you’re busy. You don’t have to be rude or mean about it. You can even add a “thank you” to the beginning if you want to be extra polite. But, the best way to command respect is to be direct and assertive.

If someone is interrupting you or trying to take over your meeting, you need to make it clear that you are in control and you will not be interrupted.

It’s easy to get so caught up in the conversation that you forget to hear from everyone else. It’s also easy to get so caught up in the conversation that you forget to cut off the person who’s been talking for way too long.

This phrase is a polite way to do both. If you’re the one who’s been dominating the conversation, it’s a great way to pass the mic. And if you’re the one who’s been listening, it’s a great way to get the conversation moving again.

It’s a bit off-putting to hear someone say they’re sorry when it’s clear they’re not sorry at all. But, when you need to interrupt, this phrase can be a great way to acknowledge that you’re breaking in and that you respect the other person’s time.

Just don’t overdo it! If you find that you’re having to interrupt a lot, try using this phrase once, and then keep it brief and to the point

If you’re in a meeting and someone is taking it off course, it’s important to address it in the moment. If you don’t, you risk the meeting getting derailed, which can lead to a whole host of problems, including not getting to the important issues that need to be addressed.

In this case, you can use this phrase to let the person know that what they’re saying is important, but it’s not the right time to discuss it. This can help redirect the conversation and keep the meeting on track.

By taking control of your meetings, you can significantly increase your productivity and overall success. You’ll be able to get in, get out and get on with your day. But, most importantly, you’ll be able to get your team on the same page and working toward the same goals.

By learning these phrases, you can steer your meetings in the right direction and get your team’s focus back on track.

Have you ever been interrupted? Have you ever been the person who interrupted someone else? It’s likely that you’ve been on both sides of the equation. Interruptions are a part of life, but they don’t have to be a part of your meetings. With these powerful phrases, you can stop interruptions in their tracks and command your next meeting!

Here are some tips to put this into practice: