Ask HN: How to deal with constantly getting cut off in work discussions?

Hello !

Try Dissensium (https://dissensium.herokuapp.com/), a smooth project that I create for fun.

Why ? Because I'm drive about by the same problem in my recent work.

So, Dissensium allows you to create anonymous online meeting about conversations or problems with your team mates. Each person can propose a solution and each person can vote on each. The facts show us that anonymity break the rules of human domination and especially that everyboby can have a nice idea. Then, allow to each participant to vote on each solution is better constructive.

So, you can try something like this. . .

It's fairly common but also very problematic. It's not acceptable. Make sure you have savings, let the manager know how harmful it is. If you or the manager can't correct it then consider leaving to find a better team if that's possible.

When it comes to getting his fair say in, Gerry Adams from Sinn Fein is a master. He never interrupts others, except to tell them to stop interrupting him, and his approach is very effective. When somebody talks over him, he talks over them saying "I didn't interrupt you, don't interrupt me" in a polite but authoritative tone, then he continues speaking until his turn is up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_QJtKLuXYc

He's so good at it, somebody recorded a parody song about it (a rip-off of a Boy Named Sue).

I had a business partner who was a great engineer, but kind of an elitist snob and never let people speak. He cost us a lot of sales that way, so I actually had to begin texting him "Slow down. Let him answer. Stop interrupting, I need to pay rent this month". Consistently calling him out on it in a private way significantly changed his communication style and we stopped losing sales that we should not have lost.

Flashbacks of my ex-wife. She would go ballistic if she thought I was interrupting her, but she would cut me off all the time and just half-heartedly apologise afterwards. She had turned into a massive bully.

We had to discipline ourselves in our team, and it had great results. (We made it slighly funnier by having an actual "speech stuffed octopus" to hand to the only person allowed to speak.)

Meetings are surprisingly more pleasant now.

In case your teamates are self-help fans, you might casually drop in as many conversations as possible that "Seek to understand, before being understood" is Covey's habit n°5 ;)

Good luck !