How to Handle Being Interrupted

Her Success Coach helps women leaders build confidence, overcome self-doubt, and lead with clarity. Cambridge-trained, evidence-based coaching for senior women in tech, business, and finance.

Being interrupted is not just frustrating; it can undermine your credibility, diminish your influence, and leave you feeling invisible. A 2014 study from George Washington University found that men were three times more likely to interrupt women than they were to interrupt other men. This article provides a toolkit of science-backed strategies to help you reclaim your voice.

A Toolkit of Responses

Level 1: The Subtle Reclaim

• The "And" Technique: When someone starts to speak over you, do not stop. Slightly raise your volume, make eye contact, and continue your sentence starting with "and."
• The Non-Verbal Cue: Hold up your hand in a gentle "stop" gesture, maintain eye contact, and continue speaking.

Level 2: The Direct Reclaim

• The "I'm Not Finished" Statement: Simply say "I'm not finished with my point yet" in a clear, calm tone. Then continue where you left off.
• The "Hold That Thought" Technique: "That's an interesting point, and I want to come back to it. Let me just finish what I was saying first."

Level 3: The Strategic Reclaim

• The Amplification Technique: Have an ally repeat your point and give you credit: "I agree with Jane's point. That's a critical insight."
• The "Thank You and Build" Method: "Thank you for expanding on my point about the strategy. To build on that, I think our next step should be..."

Level 4: The Offline Conversation

For chronic interrupters, have a private conversation: "I've noticed that we sometimes talk over each other in meetings. I want to make sure I'm fully hearing your ideas and that I have the chance to fully share mine. Can we agree to be more mindful of letting each other finish?"

It's Not About You

Being interrupted is rarely a reflection of the quality of your ideas. It is often a reflection of unconscious bias and ingrained communication patterns. By having a toolkit of strategies, you are not just reclaiming your own voice; you are helping to create a more inclusive and respectful culture for everyone.

If you want to build executive presence and stronger communication skills, let's work together.

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About Her Success Coach

Iveta Dulova is an executive and leadership coach for women with a decade of experience in global technology and a Masters in Coaching and Leadership from the University of Cambridge. She works with women managers, directors, and founders across technology, financial services, and consulting who want to build executive presence, negotiate with confidence, and build a career that reflects their values rather than their fears.

What you will find here

This page is part of the Her Success Coach resource library — a collection of practical articles, frameworks, and coaching programmes designed for women leaders. Explore in-depth guides on leadership confidence, career transitions, executive presence, imposter syndrome, delegation, strategic thinking, and difficult conversations at work. Book a 30-minute Clarity Session to discuss your goals, or join an on-demand course to develop the skills you need at your own pace.