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The Jefferson Fisher PodcastHandling Interruptions: How to Keep Your Voice Heard
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At a glance
WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT
Practical scripts and boundaries to handle interruptions without losing control
- He recommends allowing a first interruption to avoid sounding defensive and to give the other person space to get their thought out.
- On the second interruption, he advises using the person’s name plus a calm “power phrase” like “I can’t hear you when you interrupt me” to regain control without escalating.
- If interruptions continue, he suggests escalating to clear boundaries, including ending or pausing the conversation if respect isn’t shown.
- He distinguishes between intentional rude interruptions and habitual/neurologically-driven interruptions, emphasizing grace and strategy over confrontation.
- For chronic “serial interrupters,” he proposes changing the communication channel (e.g., email/text instead of live conversation) and explicitly naming the pattern if needed.
IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING
5 ideasLet the first interruption happen to keep the high ground.
Jumping in with “I’m still talking” can make you sound insecure or controlling; letting it pass once reduces defensiveness and sets up a stronger response if it happens again.
After they interrupt once, return to your original point—don’t chase the tangent.
Listen, then resume exactly where you left off so you don’t reward the interruption by abandoning your message or getting pulled into their “rabbit trail.”
Use their name to stop the pattern without a fight.
Saying the person’s name grabs attention and subtly signals accountability, making your correction more likely to land.
Use a calm, non-accusatory script: “I can’t hear you when you interrupt me.”
Delivered slowly and confidently, it frames the problem as a communication constraint rather than a character attack, which reduces escalation and often stops repeat interruptions.
Pair respect with firmness: “I want to listen to you, but you need to let me finish.”
This acknowledges their desire to speak while clearly setting turn-taking expectations, which is especially helpful with excited or fast-processing speakers.
WORDS WORTH SAVING
5 quotesToo often when you're speaking and somebody cuts in, we have the tendency to get really defensive.
— Jefferson Fisher
You cut out way strong ahead, and it makes you look like you're insecure. It makes you look like you're controlling. It's not a good look.
— Jefferson Fisher
After they've said what they need to say and they've interrupted you and you've listened, once they're done, don't address what they've said. All right? Go back to your original point right where you left off.
— Jefferson Fisher
Hey, Jefferson, I can't hear you when you interrupt me.
— Jefferson Fisher
If you continue to interrupt me, I need to end the conversation.
— Jefferson Fisher
SPEAKERS
Jefferson Fisher
hostCommunication coach and content creator focused on practical conversation and conflict-resolution tools.
High quality AI-generated summary created from speaker-labeled transcript.
