María is explaining an idea in a meeting when a coworker begins speaking over her. It happens again. By the third interruption, María can feel herself losing her place.
She wants to contribute without turning the meeting into an argument. So she pauses, looks at her coworker, and says:
“Let me finish this thought, then I’d love to hear yours.”
«Déjame terminar esta idea y luego me encantaría escuchar la tuya».
The first part protects María’s turn. The second makes room for her coworker. She can then return to her point:
“As I was saying, my suggestion is…”
«Como decía, mi sugerencia es…».
Other phrases you can use
- “One moment—I’m almost finished.” «Un momento, ya casi termino».
- “I’d like to complete my point first.” «Me gustaría terminar de explicar mi idea primero».
- “I want to hear your perspective. Let me finish this sentence.” «Quiero escuchar tu punto de vista. Déjame terminar esta oración».
- “Could I come back to my point?” «¿Podría retomar lo que estaba diciendo?»
Choose a calm tone. You do not have to apologize for wanting to finish. And if your coworker has something useful to add, you can invite it after you have made your point:
“What do you think?”
«¿Qué opinas?»
An interruption can make you doubt your English or feel that your idea does not matter. A prepared phrase gives you a way to stay in the conversation. It helps the team hear your full thought—and then hear the other person’s, too.
Practice: “Let me finish this thought, then I’d love to hear yours.”
