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I like to interrupt people when I know that I have information to share that will invalidate the next 10min of what they have to say. At that point you’re just
by Swizec 4y ago
I like to interrupt people when I know that I have information to share that will invalidate the next 10min of what they have to say. At that point you’re just wasting everyone’s time if you don’t interrupt.
For example, if you start explaining your fantastic plan for what we can build in 3 days, but I know we have a 1 day budget.
- JackFr 4y ago> I like to interrupt people when I know that I have information to share that will invalidate the next 10min of what they have to say. It’s unlikely that they are delivering a 10 minute monologue without ever offering a pause to let you politely and naturally interject with your information. More than that though, the idea that you have no need to listen to what they are saying - because you know what it is and is likely a waste of everyone’s time - tells me that you are probably a terrible listener and likely a difficult person to have a conversation with. In the example you give, by shutting them up, you basically have shut the door on any good ideas they might have - ideas that might be good regardless of the time budget.
- Swizec 4y agoWell obviously you don’t interrupt them and take over. You interrupt to add important details then let them keep going.
- realworldperson 4y ago[dead]
- User23 4y agoI used to interrupt people when I found them boring. Of course that signaled to them that I found them boring. That’s obviously not a great signal to send if you want to build a relationship, so I learned to try and find something interesting about otherwise obviously boring statements.
- borski 4y agoThis is a common mistake, and I’ve been known to make it too. You cannot predict what someone is about to say, ever. You can make guesses, and sometimes you’ll be right, but the worst case of “I know what you’re going to say so let me cut you off” being wrong is far, far worse, than letting it play through and being right. In the former case, you reinforce that this person will simply stop talking to you or telling you stories because they think you are rude. In the latter case, you’ve wasted a few minutes of time but continue developing a relationship and building trust with which you can ask clarifying questions without coming off as rude and alienating your conversation partner.
- Swizec 4y agoI think you’re misreading what I said. I’m not talking about predicting what they’re about to say, I’m talking about correcting priors that you know are wrong. If someone starts with “here’s what we can do in 3 days” and you know only 1 day is available, that’s the perfect moment to spend 10 seconds correcting an assumption. No incorrect predictions necessary.
- borski 4y agoAh, that’s more clear, yeah. Thanks for clarifying!
- serpix 4y agoInterrupting like this is a form of manipulation and a tell for a controlling personality.