How to interrupt and keep the conversation – and content – flowing

“How do I interrupt?”

I get this question a lot. People ask me when:

• they’re doing a testimonial and their client has gone off at a tangent, about an aspect of the work that has nothing to do with the recommendation

• they’re interviewing a colleague – an expert in their field – and the discussion is getting too granular, with lots of detail that will wash over the heads of their audience

• they’re hosting a podcast, and there’s a particular story they want their guest to share, but time’s running out.  Somehow, they need to cut their contributor short and jump to what they know is the best bit.

It’s a tough one 

You don’t want to appear rude or put your client/guest/colleague off their stride. 

But you also know that if you don’t intervene, you’ll end up with extra editing or content that doesn’t work for your audience.

I haven’t cracked the Art of Interruption. I’m also a believer that if conversations go off in an unexpected direction, that’s often a surprisingly good thing. You might get:

• an unexpected insight from a client

• a new story from a podcast guest

• an idea for another article from your colleague

BUT, if your deadline is tight, or you’re heading for a dead end, then interrupting is the least bad thing you can do.

Here’s some wording that might help:  

• To your client: “You’re making lots of great points. Can I go back to something you said that I found especially interesting, and that was [insert the topic you want to return to]”

• To your podcast guest: ‘Sorry to jump in, but you’ve got so many good stories. There’s one I know our audience would find really helpful to hear before we end, and that is [insert the story you want them to tell]”

• To your detail-loving colleague: “Can we regroup for a moment? You’ve got so much expertise, I know our audience would value a short summary of what you’ve just said.” 

Refer back, reassure and redirect 

What do these 3 interruptions have in common?

First, by referring back to their part of the conversation, I’m showing that I’m appreciating what they’re saying: ‘making lots of great points’/’so many good stories’/so much expertise’. 

That should reassure them that I’m not interrupting because what they’re saying is wrong or stupid. 

At the same time, I’m (gently) redirecting them, by reminding them that I want the conversation to give our audience as much value as possible: ‘especially interesting’/’find really helpful’/’value a short summary’.  

What’s good for the audience is also in the interviewee’s interests.  They want to come across as relevant and engaging. So steering them in a direction where they can showcase the best of themselves, is useful for them as well as for you. 

Adapt to your audience

That said, your interviewee – depending on their communications style – might not mind you cutting in.  Or they don’t want you to spend too much time doing it.  In which case you could try these shorter interjections:

• ‘Talk to me more about…’

• ‘Can you go into more detail about…’

• ‘Let’s go back to [previous point] for a second…’

Whether you go for long or short, it’s good to…

Set expectations

Before you start recording, you could let your interviewee know that you might jump in occasionally because you want to:

• make sure you cover the areas your audience will value the most or

• make the best use of the interviewee’s time or

• cut the content up into different lengths, to cater for different attention spans.

Forewarning them means you’re less likely to take your companion by unpleasant surprise.  And that should help to keep the conversation – and your content – flowing. 

Make the most of every minute you record 

I write more about the value of ‘referring back’ in my mini guide, ‘7 steps to successful listening’.  

It will help you get the most out of your next interview and it’s free. 

You can grab a copy here.

The photo of me wading in is by the brilliant Liz Finlayson of Vervate