I often draft my blogs by talking to ChatGPT. I talk through an idea and give “Chatty” a clear prompt: do not interrupt me until I say “Hey Chatty.”
This time, it did not matter.
I Asked It Not to Interrupt Me
It kept interrupting. First by jumping in before I was done and then, even after agreeing to stop, by repeatedly saying things like “I’m here” and “I’m listening.” Every few seconds.
I could not get out more than three words without being interrupted.
It was extremely frustrating. By the way, “Chatty” described it as “surprisingly frustrating.” Really? Surprisingly?
Eventually, I shut it off. It was not worth the effort. I did not want to keep talking.
What struck me afterward was how familiar that felt.
This Happens at Work Too
This is what happens in many workplace conversations. When someone is interrupted repeatedly, especially after asking for space to finish their thought, something shifts. The effort to keep contributing starts to feel not worth it.
And often, people shut down.
In my case, I could turn off the tool. In real life, it is not that simple. But the outcome can be the same: disengagement, withheld ideas, and missed perspectives.
We often do not think of ourselves as interrupting. Or we soften it by saying we are engaged, eager, or just trying to help.
But intent does not erase impact.
Pay attention. How often are you, or other members of your team, interrupting without realizing it?
And what might you be losing when that happens?
When I later talked to Chatty about writing this blog, it changed the first draft to describe “a recent conversation” instead of a conversation with itself. I laughed out loud. Self-protective mechanism?
