Being interrupted happens to everyone, in the office and in everyday life, and it’s annoying. In the long term, not being able to be heard can have a real impact, both on personal development and professional progression. So how do you regain control? On the CNBC website, speaking coach John Bowe recommends keeping calm, simply raising your hand confidently, and saying these three little magic words:
“Thomas, I’m speaking.”
“Obviously, not everyone is called Thomas. The idea is to pronounce the first name of the person concerned to stop them with courtesy and firmness”he specifies. However, the ideal remains to reduce the risk of being interrupted before it even occurs. Here are some tips for speaking with more confidence and authority, whether at work or at home.
Prepare in advance
Speaking in public cannot be improvised. If you want your audience to really listen to you, you need to grab their attention from the first few seconds by showing them why your message is newsworthy. Before a meeting or presentation, take a moment to organize your ideas in writing. Then think about the simplest and most impactful way to phrase them. “Always start with the essential: say from the outset what you want to convey and why it is important. Only then expand. Avoid detours or confusing introductions: be clear and direct”, advises John Bowe.
Clumsy example:
“I’ve received quite a few comments regarding, uh… well, some concerns about, let’s say, the budget carryover, and then other reporting categories affected by the new accounting rules. Finally, also for the CAPEX reporting definitions, there are just implications that we’re going to have to manage, that’s it.”
Effective example:
“The new accounting rules pose a problem. We have one month to adapt our processes, otherwise we risk incurring high costs.”
Capture your audience’s attention
Public speaking is not just about talking: it is about creating a connection with your audience. At home or among friends, we often speak in a quiet tone, without thinking too much about it. But in the professional world, this way of expressing yourself can sometimes make you go unnoticed.
To gain impact, learn to express yourself with clarity and confidence. Avoid small words that fill the silence like “uh,” “um,” “like,” or “see,” and speak with intention. Also pay attention to your intonation: a rising voice at the end of a sentence can give the impression that you doubt what you are saying. The more calm and assured your voice is, the more weight your interventions will have and will be listened to.
Depending on the type of meeting, there are different ways of speaking. “In a structured setting, a simple gesture, such as raising your hand, can be enough to signal your desire to intervene. But in a more animated exchange, you sometimes have to dare: straighten up, breathe, and say calmly but firmly: “I would like to say something”, suggests the speaking coach.
When it’s impossible to win, redefine the rules
If meetings become frustrating, there’s no need to endure. After the session, take a moment to speak with your manager: explain to him what is not working and offer concrete solutions. For example, establishing a turn to speak can help ensure that everyone is listened to.
You can also create a dynamic of mutual support with your colleagues. Support each other when one of you is cut off. The next time a Trevor interrupts, respond calmly but firmly: “Excuse me, Trevor. Marie wasn’t finished, I would like to hear the rest of what she wanted to say.”
If you have spent years not being listened to, these steps may seem intimidating. Think of it as a form of training or therapy. Changing your habits may bring up a little anxiety, but the goal is to take a new path, both in your professional and personal life.