Imagine you’re explaining an idea to your team.

You’re mid-sentence, carefully laying out your thoughts, when someone cuts you off. Frustrating, right? It might feel like your team isn’t listening or dismisses your opinions entirely. But what if we told you that interruption might actually make the conversation better?

It’s true: not all interruptions are created equal.

When used skillfully and in the right context, interruptions can enhance communication, increase clarity, and even deepen connection.

Below, we’ll explore the nature of interruptions and how to use them constructively in your next conversation, 1:1, or team meeting.  

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Rethinking Interruptions

Most Western professionals view interruptions as conversational hijacking – an attempt to dominate or control the discussion. 

But that’s not always the case.

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What Research Reveals

Communication norms vary widely by culture. In many East Asian and Mediterranean contexts, overlapping speech – what linguists call "cooperative overlap" – isn’t seen as rude. 

It’s a sign of engagement.

For example, in Japan, this collaborative approach has specific terminology. 

The word aizuchi refers to the short verbal and non-verbal responses listeners provide to show attention or punctuate the conversation. 

💡 Think: brief sounds like "mm-hmm," "sou desu ne" (that's right), or quick nods that occur while the speaker continues talking. 

There's a concept called kyowa – the co-creation of a conversation.

It happens when people finish each other’s sentences or build on thoughts in real time. Rather than interrupting the flow, these interjections demonstrate that the listener is fully present and processing the information. 

Deborah Tannen, a sociolinguist, called this “overlapping” behaviour a "high-involvement" conversation style. It contrasts with "high-considerateness" – the more familiar Western approach, where people wait their turn. High-involvement speakers overlap to keep energy and build connection.

Linguist Jennifer Coates described this as a "collaborative floor". 

In such conversations, people:

• Finish each other’s sentences
• Build on ideas in real time
• Share the space, rather than taking strict turns 

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Why This Matters For Teams

Understanding the conversation styles of your team mates helps you avoid misreading others. 

What might seem as a rude interruption could be someone showing interest. 

Recognising this can change how you listen, speak, and build rapport in your meetings.

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Cultural Context: High vs. Low-Context Communication

Anthropologist Edward T. Hall introduced the concepts of high- and low-context cultures, which help explain these different interruption styles:

Low-context cultures (like the UK, US, and Germany): Communication is explicit and direct. People typically take turns speaking, and interrupting is often perceived as rude. Meaning comes primarily from spoken words rather than context or non-verbal cues.

High-context cultures (like Japan and many Mediterranean countries): Much meaning is implicit, derived from shared experiences, non-verbal cues, and situational context. Overlapping speech often forms part of natural conversation flow.

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What This Means for Managers

Interruptions can show interest, build connection, and keep momentum – but only if they’re used well and in the appropriate (cultural, psychological, emotional) context.  

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4 Ways To Interrupt Well 

Research distinguishes between disruptive and constructive interruptions. 

These four constructive ways below can help your next conversation, not hurt it:

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1. Clarifying Interruptions: Preventing Misunderstandings

💡 Stop the conversation early if something isn’t clear.

Instead of steering the discussion toward your agenda, these interruptions ensure mutual understanding.

Example: "Sorry to interrupt, but could you clarify that point? I want to make sure I understand before we continue."

This helps avoid confusion and wasted effort – especially in technical meetings or cross-team discussions. 

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2. Time-Saving Interruptions: Cutting Through Repetition

💡 Step in when the conversation starts going in circles.

When conversations spiral into loops, often because someone feels misunderstood or struggles to articulate their thoughts, strategic time-saving interruptions can refocus the discussion efficiently.

Example: "I think we've identified the core issue here. Should we take the detailed implementation discussion offline and focus on the decision we need to make today?"

This approach prioritises efficiency without dismissing the perspectives of your team members. It acknowledges time constraints while ensuring important topics receive proper attention.

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3. Hypothesis-Driven Interruptions: Introducing Game-Changing Ideas

💡 Use this if the conversation feels stuck and you have a clear, helpful insight. 

These interruptions can occur when you recognise that the conversation needs a fundamental shift in perspective. 

Example: "I have an idea that might reframe this entire discussion. Could I share a different way to think about this challenge?"

Hypothesis-driven interruptions work best when groups acknowledge they're stuck or when you genuinely believe your perspective could unlock new solutions. They are powerful – but require strong situational awareness and confidence that you have something to add to the conversation.

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4. Provocative Interruptions: Pushing Beyond Surface-Level Thinking

💡 Challenge surface-level thinking with bold, coaching-style questions.

Adapted from paradoxical coaching, provocative interruptions use strategic surprise to push conversations toward deeper authenticity. 

They appear confrontational at first glance but serve a constructive purpose.

Examples:

• "What's the real problem we're trying to solve here?"
• "What would happen if we did nothing about this?"
• "How would this situation look if it weren't actually a problem?"

These interruptions work when surface-level discussion isn't yielding insights, but they can backfire if the timing or relationship dynamics aren't right. 

So use them carefully with your team. 

By design, they need established trust in a team and good timing to land well. 

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The Art of Constructive Interruption

What transforms interruptions from disruptive to constructive is intent. 

Constructive interruptions serve clear purposes: clarifying understanding, improving efficiency, introducing new perspectives, or deepening conversation quality.

The most effective workplace interrupters are the ones who consider:

• Timing: Is this the right moment to interject?
• Relationship: Do I have enough rapport to interrupt constructively?
• Purpose: What specific outcome am I trying to achieve?
• Cultural context: How might this interruption be received given our team dynamics?

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Making It Work

Before interrupting in your next meeting, pause and ask yourself: Why am I interrupting, and what do I hope to achieve?

The goal isn't to interrupt more, but to interrupt better.

With purpose, respect, and awareness of the impact on both the conversation and your work relationships.

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Let’s Put This Into Practice 

At Manageable, we partner with organisations to help them master the art of clear, purposeful communication – including when (and how) to interrupt your team. 

Want to learn more? Book a call here. 

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