The last two blog posts were titled, Are You Listening and Are You Practicing the Skill of Listening.
This post addresses the rude and inconsiderate behavior of interrupting someone else while they are speaking. Mark Twain said, “There is nothing so annoying as to have two people talking when you’re busy interrupting.”
Two Examples
Unless there is an emergency or a Chinese spy balloon is hovering over your fire station, do not interrupt the person who is speaking. I had an experience where a woman barged into the middle of a conversation and began talking like she was the Queen of Sheba, expecting everyone else to bow to her whims and wishes. That type of behavior is rude and ignorant.
Also, when you are speaking with someone, do not sever the conversation and walk away to address someone of higher rank or office when that person enters the room. I worked for a fire chief who did that. He and I were in a conversation one day when the city manager came into the station. The chief stopped speaking to me, walked away, and carried on a conversation with the city manager as I stood there in disbelief. That behavior is rude and ignorant. Not to mention that it was kissing the city manager’s rear end.
How to correct the habit of interrupting
What steps can you take to overcome the bad habit of interrupting?
- Keep your mouth shut and practice active listening.
- Keep your attention focused on the other person.
- Demonstrate respect for the other person and exercise discipline so you do not inject your answer or opinion before they are through speaking.
- Drive a stake into your ego.
- Apologize when you do interrupt someone else.
What about you? Do you have the bad habit of interrupting people while they are talking? Do you value your opinion and insight so much that you interrupt others while they are speaking?
If so, make a commitment to change directions and become the person who actively listens to the other person. Then remember this quote from an unknown source, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
