by Michelle Cummings

Listening is one of the most important skills in leadership – but it’s also one of the easiest to fake. You can nod, smile, and even repeat back a few words, all while planning your next comment. But true listening asks something deeper: patience. And nothing reveals a listening gap faster than interruption.

Most interruptions don’t come from a place of disrespect. They come from habit, urgency, or the belief that we already know what’s coming next. But when we interrupt or shift the conversation before the speaker finishes, we cut short more than their words. We cut short their thinking, their trust, and their willingness to fully engage.

In our work, we identify six common Interruption Styles: the Pretender, who appears to listen but is mentally elsewhere; the Deflector, who changes the subject; the Defender, who gets defensive instead of receiving feedback; the Advisor, who jumps in to fix before understanding; the Finisher, who completes others’ sentences; and the Competitor, who shifts focus to their own story. Each style is a barrier to full presence.

The good news? These habits are changeable. When leaders begin to notice their own interruption patterns, they create the space to pause and shift. That pause is powerful. It tells the speaker: I see you. I am here. You have the floor. Over time, this intentional presence builds deeper trust and clearer conversations.

Interruptions often happen fast and unconsciously. But slowing down communication can speed up connection. Teams thrive when people feel heard without being redirected, fixed, or spoken over. Listening fully is a choice – and leaders who make that choice build stronger, more open cultures.

The Ears Module in our Core Program helps leaders recognize and overcome these six Interruption Styles. It offers tools to build patience, focus, and real-time listening skills that transform conversations from reactive to intentional.