While it seems like a lot of the advice in the article and the comments here is not about interrupting, I think the real point is right at the top "if you feel

While it seems like a lot of the advice in the article and the comments here is not about interrupting, I think the real point is right at the top "if you feel inadequate, don't." Now don't get me wrong, interrupting can be one way of telling someone that they are inadequate and you already know what they're going to say, or that what they say doesn't matter. But it doesn't always mean that. Sometimes it can mean excited agreement. But when it doesn't, it can be really painful, since it feels like you don't want to have an argument every time you open your mouth, or get cut off mid-sentence every time. I think in the end what it really comes down to is do you feel respected? A lot of this gets back to imposter syndrome as the root (not communication style, although they may be correlated), and toxic people. On the other hand, I can also not be interrupted and still be disrespected. Just because someone waits until you are finished doesn't mean they are listening. (And yes, I am a woman, and I do feel that it's harder to feel respected than it should, but it's not always about interruptions)