It's been over a year that we've been zooming, skyping, and video chatting away for work, for fun, and for interviews.
And by now you've probably interrupted someone without intending to and have been interrupted yourself.
It's quite easy for interruptions and overlapping speech to occur in virtual environments like online video calls.
While spotty internet connection or low-quality mics and in-built webcams are generally the culprits, there are a few things we can do to compensate for those issues.
Here is how to minimize and even prevent interruption on your end and on the other person's end.
Let's get into it.
(1) Speak Slower, Louder
It's important to enunciate better, especially in the virtual realm where internet connection might be spotty.
When you speak slower, the receiver has a better chance of being able to read your lips if they cannot hear you.
It's also important to speak as loudly as possible.
Use your diaphragm to engage the powerhouse that is your core to speak up.
Your mic might not be the best quality, so don't rely on it.
If there is a lag thereby delaying the message transmission you might only have the sound.
In which case, the visuals might freeze for a second but the sound might still carry through.
This is why you want to speak loudly and slowly.
If you're someone who naturally speaks fast (like me) then you'll definitely want to practice this offline so you can ace in online.
(2) Ask CCQs
CCQs are comprehension check questions.
This is a teaching strategy that we implement while teaching to ensure that all students are following the lesson and that everyone is on the same page.
You can ask a CCQ based on what you have just said, what someone else has just explained, and use it as an opportunity to refine the message, elaborate using examples, or expand on the topic.
You can ask things like:
“Do XYZ make sense?”
“What are your thoughts on ABC”
Either way, peppering in some CCQs will prevent interruptions because you're making sure you're covering all bases and leave no room for confusion.
(3) Add More Pauses
In face-to-face communication, silence can be uncomfortable.
People might feel awkward when there is a pause in the conversation.
You know what I'm talking about…right :)
In the online medium, however, we NEED pauses.
For the aforementioned reasons (i.e., internet connection, bandwidth, AV issues, etc.) we need to build in those pauses.
They don't need to be unnaturally long. A few seconds will do.
Just make sure you add pauses.
Pauses allow the audience time to process the information.
Pauses afford the speaker more thinking time.
When people are clearer about what they are saying and when people understand the message being transmitted there is less likely to be interruptions on either side.
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So the next time you're in a video call think about these three strategies to reduce the likelihood of being interrupted and the temptation to interrupt someone in the call as well.
Happy Explearning ⚡
About the Author and the Explearning Academy:
Mary Daphne is an expert in communication, executive interpersonal skills, and personal development. She is the founder of the Explearning Academy, a platform dedicated to helping individuals enhance their social fluency, boost their careers, and elevate their social game. Through immersive group coaching programs like the Executive Communication Lab and self-guided journeys, participants gain the social superpowers and career catapults they've been searching for. If you're ready to take your negotiation skills to the next level and connect with like-minded individuals, visit academy.explearning.co and explore the various plans available. Join the Explearning Academy community and unlock your full potential.
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