I don’t mean to but…
… well, yes you do.
How is it people will interrupt you while speaking with another and say: “I don’t meant to interrupt you but…” and very few people will say “Then don’t” or “.. then why are you?” or… “… yes, you do since you’re doing it.”
This came up recently in an online discussion where I’d stated something and the responder said: “Not to argue against what you are saying but… ” then proceeding to ague against what I was saying.
If you’ve got something to say, say it! Don’t mealy mouth by trying to control someone’s potential response to what you say. I think what’s interesting about us as people is, many times we will preclude something in an attempt to control another.
This is something we learn to do as children… manipulate. We carry it into adulthood not even realizing we’re doing it. We sometimes call it being polite. Well, when you are interrupting two people in conversation, you are interrupting and you mean to do it. Just like kids we are, aren’t we? So, what’s a better thing to say? Acknowledge the interruption ~ “Excuse me for interrupting. May I just ask a quick question…?” or whatever.
What I’ve also found is how easy it is FOR us to allow an interruption. Would it be rude to ask the interruptor to wait until we’re finished with our conversation before engaging with that person?
I see this at networking meetings constantly and am at fault myself occasionally and will put more focus on being polite when others are speaking whether in the front of the room, or to another.
Comments appreciated
Tags: etiquette, personal power, self-responsibility, selfgrowth