A good manager is above all a person who can communicate excellently with others. This also means that they should not interrupt other people. People who interrupt others are often not aware of this habit, or they do not admit how unpleasant this communication fault feels. If you have ever spoken with someone who constantly interrupted you, you certainly know how irritating it is. As a manager, you should be able to listen carefully to your subordinates and show them that their opinions matter to you. If you realize that you sometimes interrupt others, whether colleagues or subordinates, here are several tips on how to get rid of this bad habit.
Do not be afraid of silence
According to INC.com, you should always pause for two seconds before you start speaking. Do not begin speaking immediately. First, you will organize your thoughts better. Second, you will send a signal to the other person that you are not only waiting for them to stop speaking, but that you are also thinking about what they are saying. Third, the pause will help ensure that the other person has truly finished speaking.
Prepare an agenda and take notes
Before a meeting with a subordinate or a team meeting, write down the points you want to discuss or possible reactions to situations that may arise. While the other person is speaking, you can occasionally write a note about what you want to say next. This prevents you from rushing to speak and interrupting the other person because you are afraid of forgetting something.
Consciously work on solving the problem
The first and most important step is to admit that you have a problem and actively try, during interactions with subordinates or colleagues, not to interrupt them. Truly listen to what the person is saying, think about it, and then respond after careful consideration. Do not be afraid of silence. Many people try to speak immediately after the other person finishes, but silence can be a very effective and powerful way to give your own words greater weight. Also, if you allow the other person to speak fully, their communication style may tell you more than if they were responding to a question.
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