Some meetings can go on for a while and it's important to pause once in awhile and refocus! Learn how to avoid long, never-ending meetings.
Your superior, Bill, has been ranting about the current market for what feels like the last ten minutes. It seems like once he's done with one topic, he's ranting about the next, and you notice that the others in the room are starting to look antsy. The person on your right is responding to an email and the person on your left is actively shopping for shoes on Amazon. You look around the room and everyone else seems to be zoned out, only pretending to listen to Bill as he keeps rambling.
What do you do?
- Have you ever been in a situation where it was difficult to interrupt?
- Can you think of some polite ways to interrupt someone?
The following phrases can help when you need to refocus the conversation during a meeting. Look at the 15 phrases below and put them into the correct functional groups.
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“Let’s park that idea and revisit it if we have time at the end.”
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“Just to make sure we’re aligned…”
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“Can I just add something quickly?”
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“I think there might be a misunderstanding—can I say something?”
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“Sorry to interrupt, but...”
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“That’s a great point—let’s note it and continue with the main discussion.”
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“We’re running a bit short on time, so let’s wrap this part up.”
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“Let’s circle back to the main topic.”
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“If I can jump in for a second...”
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“In the interest of time, let’s move on to the next point.”
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“Shall we table that for later and return to the current discussion?”
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“I don’t mean to cut you off, but...”
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“I think we’re getting a bit off track—can we return to [topic]?”
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“Could I just clarify something quickly?”
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“In the interest of time, let’s move on.”
| Function | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Interrupting Politely (4 phrases) | |
| When you need to clarify or refocus (3 phrases) | |
| To refocus politely (4 phrases) | |
| To manage time (4 phrases) |
Listen to your teacher as they read the script for both Marketing and Operation team leads. Then,
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Identify when the speaker goes off-topic
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Choose a polite interruption phrase
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Use a redirection phrase to guide the meeting back (e.g., “Shall we come back to product line planning for a moment?”)
You are now more practised in the art of being both polite and assertive, where you can interrupt respectfully, clarify and refocus when necessary and manage and keep people on time.
Of these issues, which one do you think you need to address or be the most aware of, and why?