There's nothing better than having a lively conversation with new acquaintances. Sharing ideas and forming new ones with others is exciting. It is frustrating however, when one person continues to cut off others who are speaking with no apology in sight.
A couple of months ago, I went to a networking meeting at my city's Chamber of Commerce. After it ended, myself and three others who attended the meeting decided to grab dinner across the street at a restaurant. As the conversation went to local politics, the one member of our party refused to not be heard. He cut each of us off as we were in mid sentence and if we dared to disagree with him, he bludgeoned us with his views. At one point, he'd asked me a question. As I answered the question he interrupted me.
"If you'd let me finish, I'll explain my point," I replied trying to remain calm.
"Let the lady finish," said the other gentleman at the table.
As I proceeded he sat in his seat agitated. He was just bursting at the seams to speak. His enthusiasm was admirable, be he interrupted countless times without being the least bit remorseful. In addition, most of his points were inaccurate. So much so, that myself and the other two people at the table tried desperately to suppress our smirks.
When the other lady began to speak, he interrupted her also.
"No, you've got that wrong!" he scolded.
"Could you let me finish?" the lady asked pointedly.
"You aren't the only one with a thought in your head," the other gentleman admonished.
By the time it was time to leave, the three of us were mentally drained. The other lady and gentleman got ready to leave and I said my goodbyes as I headed to the restroom. When I came out, the abrasive fellow was still at the table.
"See you later," I said walking past the table and heading for the door.
"Are you on Linked In?" he asked.
"Yes," I said hesitantly.
Did I really want to be "linked" to someone so obnoxious? Not so much. It was bad enough that I would see him at the next meeting.
"Okay. I have your card. I'll look you up," he said with a glimmer of hope.
"Right then. Goodnight," I said over my shoulder and headed out.
There's nothing wrong with having your voice heard. Your voice is part of you. You don't have to be overbearing with you view point. When you are tempted to replicate this kind of behavior just remember: Copernicus called and you aren't the center of the universe.
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