How to React When You're Interrupted During a Meeting

Being interrupted elicits all sorts of negative feelings and reactions, and research has shown it can conjure feelings similar to a physical assault. It often seems worse during meetings, when there's more of an audience. Being interrupted can make you feel like your voice isn't being heard, that your opinions and ideas matter less than someone else's. That being sad, how can you keep your emotions in check?

Interruptions during meetings are painful. We often associate participation with power, so being cut out of the conversation feels like a blow on both a personal and professional level. The interruption isn't your fault by any means, but you may worry others will see you as 'weak'. The weak thing to do, however, would be to overreact.

Start your speech by telling people you're going to provide them with some context to your subject, and you'll be happy to take questions and responses at the end. That should hopefully nip interruptions in the bud before they take place.

If you are interrupted, parry by saying 'If you could let me finish my point, I'd really like to get your take on things'. There are ways of handling an interruption which show tact and don't humiliate the person who interrupted. They may have embarrassed you – intentionally or unintentionally – but you're the better person for rising above it.

Finally, if you're comfortable with offering feedback to a colleague – and not everyone is – let them know after the meeting that you felt they didn't give you enough of a chance to speak. It's better to settle the matter quickly, before the next meeting.