How To Stop Interrupting People: 11 Tips That Really Work

Are you always interrupting people?

A woman with long dark hair and wearing a sleeveless white top is sitting and gesturing with a smile. She is in a well-lit indoor setting and appears engaged in a conversation.

Talking over people can be a hard habit to break, particularly if it’s part of your natural communication style.

There are some legitimate reasons why people develop this habit. People who come from cultures or families that are generally loud and compete for the speaking floor get used to functioning in that environment. If you don’t talk loud and elbow your way into the conversation, then you just don’t get heard.

Then there are neurological differences like ADHD that can make it extremely difficult not to blurt out whatever is going through your mind the second it goes through your mind.

Whilst all communication styles are valid, and it’s important to be yourself, continually talking over other people can leave them feeling invalidated, ignored, and quite simply, annoyed.

Interrupting can also make quieter people feel excluded and unimportant, which I’m sure isn’t really how you want people to feel in a good conversation.

So how do you balance your own communication style with the needs of others? Here are 11 tips to help.

1. Be upfront with people about your tendency to interrupt.

A man and woman having a conversation in a bright, modern office. Both are casually dressed, holding coffee mugs, and wearing lanyards. The woman holds a notebook. Large windows overlook a cityscape in the background.

If you know you tend to interrupt, especially due to ADHD or other neurodivergent traits, it’s okay to be upfront about it. You might say something like, “I’ve got ADHD which means I sometimes struggle with interrupting or knowing when to speak, so do let me know if I’ve spoken over you.” This approach acknowledges your communication style while showing consideration for others.

Being open about your challenges can help create understanding and foster patience in your conversation partners. Your way of communicating is valid, and it’s not solely on you to change, but communication is a two way street – it’s about finding a balance that works for everyone involved.

2. Actually listen to what the other person is saying.

Two men are sitting indoors, engaging in a conversation. The man on the left is wearing a green polo shirt and has a thoughtful expression, resting his hand near his face. The man on the right, slightly blurred, listens attentively. The background is softly lit and out of focus.

Active listening is focusing intently on what the speaker has to say until they finish their thought.

Many people do not practice active listening. Instead, they skim the speaker’s words while trying to think of the next thing they want to say. This is a problem for a couple of reasons. First, they’re not really listening and may miss important context or statements that the speaker is making. Second, it makes the listener appear as though they are not engaged in the conversation.

And that second point is especially bad if you happen to be talking to the boss or having a sensitive conversation with a loved one. You don’t want to appear to be disengaged or uninterested.

Try to avoid thinking about what you want to say while the other person is thinking. Instead, quiet yourself and just focus on their words.

3. Pause for 10 seconds before speaking.

Four people in business attire sit around a table in a cafe, engaged in a lively conversation. One man, holding a drink, appears to be speaking, while the others listen attentively with smiles. The atmosphere is warm and casual.

Sometimes we interrupt other people due to miscues in the flow of conversation. These cues can be easy to miss if you aren’t actively listening because they are often subtle. The speaker may have paused for dramatic effect, comedic timing, or just to gather their thoughts before they continue.

A good way to stop interrupting people is to simply take ten seconds between the time they stop speaking and you start speaking. It might feel awkward, but you can always explain this away as you were just thinking about what was being said, which you should be doing anyway.

That pause will also give you a little additional time to read the speaker and look for conversation cues for them, like if their facial expression denotes a thought or a joke.

4. Purse your lips or cover your mouth as a reminder to wait.

Two women sit at an outdoor table, smiling and holding coffee cups. One has long, dark hair and is wearing a black top, while the other has curly blonde hair and is wearing a black coat and maroon scarf. The background is blurred with greenery.

Perhaps you need an active reminder to help stifle the impulse to talk over other people. You can do that by pursing your lips or adopting a posture where you can cover your mouth. Pursing your lips helps because it’s common body language for being in thought. The person you are speaking to will interpret that as you thinking about their words.

You may also find it helpful to rest your chin in your hand and put a finger over your lips, circumstances allowing. That would be fine in a personal conversation but will probably look a little off in professional conversations or meetings.

Either way, it’s a physical reminder to stop yourself from talking over people who haven’t finished what they have to say.

5. Repeat their statement back when appropriate.

Two men are sitting at a table in a bright room, engaged in conversation. One is wearing glasses and an orange shirt under a light jacket, and the other is in a yellow hoodie. A laptop and a plant are on the table.

When communicating with another person, a common piece of advice is to repeat their point back to them in your own words to show that you understand what they are saying. This can be a helpful piece of advice for not interrupting or talking over people because it forces your mind to stay focused on the speaker.

This is most helpful in a personal conversation where the other person expresses something of deep importance. Like, think of when a friend is having a hard time, or maybe you’re having a discussion with your boss about a work responsibility.

6. Allow the speaker to continue if you do interrupt.

Two people sit at a café table with coffee cups and tablets. One person, in a light blue shirt, listens intently, while the other, in a red blouse, gestures expressively. Green plants hang from the ceiling, adding a touch of nature to the modern setting.

You are going to interrupt. You’re going to fall back to that old habit sometime sooner or later. It’s okay! Really. No one is perfect, so don’t expect yourself to be either.

Stop yourself when it happens. Just say, “I’m sorry for interrupting, please go on.”

The habit of making that apology will help you maintain better control over when you decide to interject into the conversation. And it has the added benefit of communicating to the speaker that you realize you made an error, are apologetic, and give them back the floor to continue speaking.

7. Make notes if you are in a work setting or group conversation.

A woman is speaking and gesturing with her hands during a business meeting while three colleagues, two men and one woman, listen intently. They are seated on a couch, with notebooks and documents in hand, engaged in a discussion in an office environment.

In a work or group setting, it is helpful to carry a small notebook with you. That way, you can jot down notes and thoughts you have about what’s being said to revisit later. Some people interrupt because they are afraid they will forget their question or point. The notebook is the solution to that problem.

Plus, it’s helpful to collect these thoughts and notes for when you get to the end of the presentation. You may find that your question was already answered or your points covered by the end.

8. Acknowledge your interruption if you need to make one.

A woman and a man are sitting at an outdoor table with a laptop and notebooks. They appear to be having a discussion. The setting is casual, with trees visible in the background.

There are times in conversations when you need to make an interruption. Perhaps there is a bit of misinformation being shared that you need to correct. In that scenario, just limit yourself to providing the appropriate context or information required for the comment.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you, but…”

Make your point, and then step back out of the flow of conversation.

An interruption is sometimes necessary.

9. Ask a trusted and accepting friend to help you.

Changing a habit can be hard work. You can make the job easier by enlisting the help of a trusted friend or family member. But make sure it’s one who accepts you for who you are, who isn’t going to go overboard at trying to change you into a completely different person. Have them keep an eye on you and just give you a little nudge or inform you when you’re interrupting, so you can better avoid it.

After the conversation is over, they can just tell you, “Hey, you interrupted John while he was talking about his trip.” That way, you can acknowledge it with yourself if you feel it slipped under your radar.

10. Practice with a safe partner.

Two young women sit at a table with notebooks, textbooks, and a tablet. One holds a coffee cup while the other holds a smartphone. They are engaged in conversation and smiling. The setting appears to be a casual study area or cafe.

A great way to change any habit is through regular practice. You can practice not interrupting with the help of a friend by just asking them to talk about a thing. Suggest they talk about something with their work, an event in their life, or a situation they had to deal with. Then, take that time to actively listen to what they have to say, work on your own internal narration, and stop the triggers that cause you to talk over people.

Make it clear that you are asking for help with this specific problem and may not be entirely invested in the conversation. You don’t want your friend to be pouring their heart out to you, and you’re not paying attention because you’re thinking about how you speak.

Keep practicing. Keep working on listening and just being quiet when other people speak. The more you work at it, the easier it will be.

11. Make sure you spend enough time with people who appreciate your natural communication style.

Four women are sitting at an outdoor table, smiling and talking while holding glasses of rosé wine. The setting appears to be a sunny day in a park or garden, with greenery in the background.

While it’s important to be mindful of others’ communication needs, it’s equally crucial to find people who appreciate and understand your natural style. There will be plenty of people who find your enthusiastic, rapid-fire communication engaging and enjoyable.

Seek out environments and social groups where your communication style is more readily accepted. This might be support groups, creative circles, or simply friends who share your conversational energy. Having spaces where you can be yourself without constant self-monitoring can be refreshing and validating. Balance these interactions with situations where you practice more traditional turn-taking to develop a flexible communication toolkit.