When someone interrupts our conversation, it gets us really worked up. So, how do you handle interruptions at work? There are ways we can change things for ourselves at work and for each other!
Who else has been in a situation where you start to wonder, “Why is it that men talk over me?” Let’s say you’re in a meeting, and you’re speaking up about an idea that you think could benefit the company. You’re passionate about it, and you’ve done your research, so you’re ready to make your case.
Then, suddenly, just as you start to talk about it, someone else starts talking — and it’s not the person who asked for input! It’s another colleague who just took over the conversation and started talking over you.
Now, you can understand the thought of “why do men talk over me?” comes into play. The issue is that, in most cases, it wasn’t even a question they were trying to ask you — they just wanted to draw attention to themselves.
It happens all the time: men interrupt women. And while it might seem like a minor annoyance on its own, interruptions like this can have serious consequences when they happen on a regular basis at work. How do you handle interruptions at work?
It’s a problem that’s been happening forever, but it’s still worth talking about.
Every woman who has ever worked with men has experienced the moment when they interrupt you. It’s frustrating, and it makes your voice feel less important than theirs. But why? Why do men interrupt women so much?
In this article, we’ll explore why men interrupt women and how do you handle interruptions at work.
Why do men talk over me?
Well, there are a few reasons why this happens. First of all, they just do because society has made it so. Second, because they often don’t even realize they’re doing it. Third, because they can get away with it in the workplace because people are more likely to let men speak freely and interrupt women without consequence.
When men interrupt conversations, they’re trying to assert their dominance. This could be because of your gender, or it could be because they just want to make sure that everyone knows who runs things in the room. Either way, if it’s happening at work, it’s probably not a good sign.
But there’s no need to get angry or take it personally when someone interrupts you or start to ask yourself questions like “Why do men talk over me?”—you can just as easily turn it around and use the moment as an opportunity to show off how capable and confident you are.
How do you handle interruptions at work?
Here are some steps on how to stop interrupting conversations from happening in the workplace:
1) Take note of how many times this happens to you during meetings or conversations with colleagues. Are there particular people who tend to do this more often than others?
2) If possible, try to figure out why they’re doing this and address them directly about it. For example, “Hey [name], could we take turns speaking?” or “I’d really prefer it if we didn’t interrupt each other.” You may need to set boundaries so people can respect them. Make sure you speak up for yourself and for other women who are being interrupted, and ask whoever is doing the interrupting to stop interrupting others and wait until people have finished speaking before adding anything else themselves.
3) You have the ability to be assertive in certain situations. When he interrupts you, say “excuse me” or “please let me finish,” then continue talking as if nothing happened. Some people will feel embarrassed and realize they made a mistake; hopefully they’ll stop doing it in the future as well.
When someone interrupts us in a conversation, it’s actually frustrating. And it can be especially frustrating when that person is a colleague. It can make you feel like you’re not being taken seriously or that your ideas aren’t important.
Conclusion
No matter what the reason, interrupting is a problem we all face at work, mostly because of gender bias. Either way, you shouldn’t allow anyone to make you fall into the thought of “why do men talk over me?” Instead use our guide on how to stop interrupting conversations from happening to you or someone else.