Interruptions, Repetition, and the Leadership Dance: Mastering the Art of Listening

In the spirited ballet of dialogue, especially in heated conversations or passionate exchanges, it’s not uncommon to find the dance disrupted by interruptions and the occasional verbal elbow. Picture it: you’re on the precipice of a revelation, your thoughts sharp, words ready to take flight—and then, crash! Your partner vaults in, words tripping over one another, filling the room with echoes of thoughts unfinished and voices layered.

This is not a mere glitch in communication but a window into the dynamics of leadership and human connection. Let’s peel back the layers and find out what’s really happening when this conversational tango occurs.

The Art of Repetition: A Defensive Chant

There’s a fascinating phenomenon that unfolds in these moments—one of repetition. When a person feels interrupted, they might find themselves repeating their point, not out of stubbornness or a failure to move forward, but as an instinctive response. Repetition becomes a protective chant, an effort to anchor their thoughts in the turbulent waters of conversation. It says, “Listen. I’m still here. My idea still matters.”

This reflex is more than a quirk; it’s an important signal. In leadership, where the currents of communication often swirl fast and fierce, recognizing this pattern is key. It reveals not just the content of what’s being discussed but the emotional undercurrent—often insecurity, the need to assert value, or the desire for clarity.

Interruptions: Intentional or Accidental?

Interruption is not always as aggressive as it feels. Sometimes it stems from a rush of excitement, a genuine eagerness to contribute. Other times, it’s a misfire in our mental race, the assumption that we already know what the other person will say. But regardless of intent, the effect is universal: a derailment, a pause that fractures the conversation’s flow. And in a leadership context, the stakes are higher—an interrupted voice can lead to interrupted trust, interrupted cohesion.

Understanding this calls for what can only be described as conversational humility. It’s the practice of holding back just long enough to let the full point land. It’s the discipline to listen not for a pause to interject but for a complete idea to breathe.

Reclaiming Leadership in Dialogue

Leadership is not just tested in grand decisions but in these small, easily overlooked moments. It’s in how we notice when a colleague repeats themselves, not with an eye-roll of impatience, but with a keen ear that asks, What didn’t get heard the first time?

The true leaders are those who create space. They don’t rush to fill silence; they understand that silence is often where the most powerful voices are composed. Leaders acknowledge interruptions when they happen, even if they’re the ones at fault. A simple, “I jumped in too soon; please continue,” can be the balm that stitches conversation back together.

And for those who feel compelled to repeat themselves—ask why. Was it because your point needed reinforcing? Or did you fear that it didn’t land the first time? That self-awareness can transform moments of exasperation into moments of growth.

A Practical Takeaway: The Listening Compass

In your next meeting or discussion, try what I like to call the Listening Compass. Visualize yourself not as the centerpiece of communication but as a point that orients and navigates the conversation. Let others speak without the weight of your anticipation pressing against their words. And when interruptions happen—because they will—acknowledge them with grace. Watch as trust blooms in the spaces you allow, and repetition turns from a defense to a rare echo.

In the end, leadership, much like conversation, is less about the loudness of your voice and more about the echoes you leave behind. When everyone feels heard, the interruptions that do occur are just stepping stones, not stumbling blocks. So, the next time you find yourself caught in the swirl of conversation, remember: sometimes the most powerful move is not to speak louder or faster, but to let others finish the dance.

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” – Stephen R. Covey