Continuation Interrupt

Techniques > Conversation techniques > Interrupting > Continuation Interrupt

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Continue what the other person is saying, picking up from where they are, as seamlessly as you can.

You can use discourse markers to start what you are saying. You can also start mid-sentence, literally continuing from what the other person says.

Example

...that we can build next week, eh?

So, what we need to do is get Jen to order the system.

Yes, and we could invite Jeffrey too!

Discussion

Continuation may well be a form of agreement interrupt.

Continuation can be helpful for the other person when they are flagging and running out of words or are struggling with how to put what they are saying into words.

Done well, the continuation interrupt shows that you are highly aligned with the other person can thus help to build trust and agreement.