Interruptions and Handling them

Interruptions: This is probably the most hated word in communications arena.

It is very easy for anyone to slip into the habit of interrupting others. In some people it is such an ingrained habit that they will not even know that they are interrupting someone. I have been one of them and thankfully with practice, I have been able to overcome this problem. You may even get a picture of the guy who keeps interrupting you when you talk and gives off a know-it-all-attitude. How I hate that type. Then again, there are different ways at looking at that.

First thing to know is to hate the attitude, not the person.

Usually they are very well intentioned. I am not saying this just because I am one of them. There are two types,

1. Know-it-all-walking-dictionaries and

2. Know-it-all-BS.

Learning to find the difference will help us to make the most use of interrupters.

We all have been with people who interrupt often (unnecessarily) and also those who come up with good (and crazy) ideas. Some of these people are very erratic and also very creative. Their thought processes are non linear and from what I have seen, all major businessmen have one such person around because, they can think differently than the rest. They can give a perspective which others can’t. Dismissing them as a nuisance would be incorrect. But then, not all interrupters fall into this category. That why we have to learn to recognize the difference.

The act or behavior of interruption is not bad by itself. Let’s find some ways in which you can counter this seemingly bad menace. Using these methods you can handle and even be benefited by interrupting oneself and others.

Important: Use situational judgment before using any of these techniques

1. Learn to recognize this behavior in your self.

Interruptions happen not just in talking but also to our thoughts and actions. Verbal interruptions are easy to realize. If you want to solve the core problem, try and realize all the different areas of life where you get interrupted by yourself. Some objects like mobile phone interrupt us and makes us go wild. I have had numerous instances when my mobile interrupted in the most inexcusable times (yes even in the lovely ones too)

2. Realize the purpose of Interruptions.

Interruptions are like messengers, they have a purpose and the message. Once you recognize at least three different areas in your own life where you suffer from unnecessary interruptions, begin to look for the possible reasons for these interruptions.

Apart from mechanical interruptions like mobiles you may have thought interruptions. These are very important. The best way to fight them is to focus on them. Our unconscious mind is very protective and if it thinks we are forgetting some thing. It will bring it to our consciousness by sending us signals which may be metaphorical or direct. Most of them originate from the depths of the powerful and protective unconscious mind

Always respect these signals. The more you respect your unconscious, the more it will be helpful to you.

Example: you are reading and you keep getting a recurrent picture of your mobile being at home. You check your bag and it’s with you. So you get annoyed. In such situations respect the message and acknowledge it. Interruptions may be indicative or metaphorical in its message. The meaning will dawn to you in due course.

If you hate it, suppress it or get anxious over it, you are indicating distrust towards your unconscious. Stay away from doing something like that.

3. You find yourself interrupting others while they talk.

It’s your unconscious trying to be helpful. It can also be your ego trying to take a shot to show its importance. The best way to solve this is to just laugh at your ego’s attempt for attention. Just laugh at it internally and also thank it for the message. Make a note of the message and deliver it to the group later.

For all you know, it might be necessary for the others to listen to that message. Hence the basic idea is to not suppress interruptions but to channelize it in a different way.

4. Dealing with others interrupting you.

Well there are different ways you can handle it depending on the situation and context. These are some ways in which I have used to handle this problem.

Use caution while you use these techniques.

If I come across habitual die-hard interrupters, I ask them directly, "aren't you interrupting me today?"

As I said, use sound judgment while using this particular technique.

Another way is to let them know that they interrupt a lot and they can find a solution to their problem by coming to this site and reading this page. You can even print this page and give it to them if you want. Simple isn’t it?

You are achieving two objectives. You are telling them that you know that they are interrupting too often. That you care about them and you are willing to help. The least of all, you, will give me new visitors and encourage me to write more.

The useful way of using interruptions:

Admit it, we all have it. Interrupting is a natural thing. Once you accept it, move on to the next phase of how to harness the power of Interruption.

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