--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leaders should not interrupt teammates…" description: "\"“Leaders should not interrupt teammates during conversations, because that will establish an interrupting norm. They should demonstrate they are listen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/charles-duhigg-1088_communication_leaders-should-not-interrupt-teammates-d_2041445.jpg" --- # Leaders should not interrupt teammates during… ![“Leaders should not interrupt teammates during conversations, because that will establish an interrupting norm. They should demonstrate they are listening by summarizing what people say after they said it. They should admit what they don’t know. They shouldn’t end a meeting until all team members…” quote by Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/charles-duhigg-1088_communication_leaders-should-not-interrupt-teammates-d_2041445.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/charles-duhigg-1088_communication_leaders-should-not-interrupt-teammates-d_2041445.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/charles-duhigg-1088_communication_leaders-should-not-interrupt-teammates-d_2041445.jpg) > ““Leaders should not interrupt teammates during conversations, because that will establish an interrupting norm. They should demonstrate they are listening by summarizing what people say after they said it. They should admit what they don’t know. They shouldn’t end a meeting until all team members have spoken at least once. They should encourage people who are upset to express their frustrations, and encourage teammates to respond in nonjudgmental ways. They should call out intergroup conflicts and resolve them through open discussion.”” [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leadership requires active listening, inclusive participation, and transparent conflict resolution to foster collaborative teams. **In simple terms:** Leaders should listen, include everyone, and resolve conflicts openly. Key Takeaway Practice active listening and inclusive facilitation. Themes leadership communication teamwork Mood encouraging thoughtful Type leadership team dynamics When to use this quote - team meetings - project planning - conflict mediation Key Concepts psychology conflict resolution inclusive leadership Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent full participation? - How can you model vulnerability as a leader? A Different Perspective Implementing all steps may be time‑consuming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Encourage People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encourage-people/) [Encourage Teammates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encourage-teammates-3801184/) [Interrupt Teammates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interrupt-teammates-3801181/) [Interrupting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interrupting/) [Leaders Interrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-interrupt-3801182/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Team Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-members/) [Teammates Conversations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teammates-conversations-3801183/) ## Related quotes > [I try to encourage all my teammates, and I sure hope that some day all athletes - my kids, high school kids - get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/i-try-to-encourage-all-my-teammates-and-i-sure-hope-that-some-day-all/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [There is nothing so annoying as having two people talking when you're busy interrupting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-is-nothing-so-annoying-as-having-two-people-talking-when-you-re/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Myr, your mole is interrupting my solo”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cunning/myr-your-mole-is-interrupting-my-solo/) [Olivia Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cunning/) > [“If you have ever experienced this type of unprofessional treatment, I doubt you would even consider giving them business in the future. 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This meant that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/at-a-small-dinner-with-other-business-executives-the-guest-of-honor/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [The fact that I am interrupting serious work to answer these questions proves that I am so stupid that I should be penalized severely.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-fact-that-i-am-interrupting-serious-work-to-answer-these/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [That's the trouble with a politician's life-somebody is always interrupting it with an election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/that-s-the-trouble-with-a-politician-s-life-somebody-is-always/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [“Look,” said Chains. “I don’t want to spend the rest of the day interrupting your questions, so I’m going to temporarily forget how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-lynch/look-said-chains-i-don-t-want-to-spend-the-rest-of-the-day/) [Scot Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-lynch/) > [“Interrupting a man when he’s discussing his profession is like telling him what he has to say isn’t important. 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Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man's enjoyment of his cigar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/eating-and-sleeping-are-the-only-activities-that-should-be-allowed-to/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Boredom is a choice. Like tardiness. Or interrupting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/boredom-is-a-choice-like-tardiness-or-interrupting/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) ## More by Charles Duhigg > [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [America has always had an apocalyptic strain. 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