These moments happen to everyone—in meetings, presentations, even casual conversations. The difference between people who handle them smoothly and those who struggle isn’t natural talent. It’s learned communication skills that anyone can develop.
This guide breaks down real coaching sessions where people just like you worked through their biggest communication challenges. You’ll learn exactly what to do when someone constantly interrupts you, how to think clearly under pressure, and the specific vocal techniques that make you sound more authoritative.
No theory. Just practical strategies you can use tomorrow.
How to Stop People From Interrupting You
Being interrupted constantly is frustrating. It makes you feel unheard and undermines your authority. But there’s a pattern to why it happens—and specific techniques to stop it.
Why People Interrupt You
Interruptions happen when you lack vocal presence and physical presence. When your voice trails off or your body language shrinks, you become easy to interrupt.
The vocal fix: End sentences on a lower pitch.
When you end sentences on a higher pitch (like asking a question), it signals uncertainty. Your voice essentially says “I’m done talking, you can jump in now.”
Compare these two:
- High pitch ending: “The reason people interrupt you is because you’re not ending on a lower pitch?” (sounds uncertain)
- Low pitch ending: “The reason people interrupt you is because you’re not ending on a lower pitch.” (sounds definitive)
That subtle shift changes everything. A lower pitch communicates authority and completion.
The Physical Presence Factor
Even if people can’t see you (like on a phone call), your body language affects your voice. When you slouch or sit still, your voice loses energy and presence.
The solution:
- Use larger gestures when speaking (even on phone calls)
- Stand up during important calls
- Move your face and smile—people can hear it
- Increase your volume slightly (aim for 7/10)
Your body and voice are connected. When your body has energy, your voice naturally gains presence.
Frame the Conversation First
For chronic interrupters, set expectations before you start talking:
“Hey, I know you’re passionate about this topic. Can you give me 5 minutes to share my full idea? Then I’d love to hear your thoughts.”
Most people interrupt because they want to add value, not because they’re trying to be rude. Framing the conversation upfront gives them permission to wait—and gives you space to finish.
How to Answer Questions Under Pressure
Freezing when someone asks you a question—especially multiple questions at once—is a common challenge. The pressure to respond immediately makes your mind go blank.
The Problem: Poor Questions
Here’s the truth: not everyone knows how to ask good questions. Sometimes people ask 4-5 questions in one breath without realizing they’re overwhelming you.
You don’t have to answer everything immediately. You have permission to slow down.
The Prioritization Technique
When someone asks multiple questions, use this response:
“You’ve asked me several questions here. Which one would you like me to address first?”
This does three things:
- Buys you time to think without looking uncertain
- Makes them prioritize what actually matters most
- Shows you care by helping them clarify their needs
You’re not avoiding the question—you’re creating clarity. And that makes you look more thoughtful, not less competent.
Practice Thinking on Your Feet
If you struggle with spontaneous responses, the only way to improve is practice. You can’t get better at thinking on your feet by avoiding it.
Recommended practice: Improv classes.
Improv forces you into high-pressure scenarios where quick thinking is required, but mistakes don’t matter. It’s a safe space to build the exact skill you’re missing.
You don’t need to be funny or performative—you just need to practice responding without overthinking.
How to Communicate More Assertively
Assertive communication isn’t about being aggressive or rude. It’s about projecting confidence and authority through specific vocal and physical behaviors.
The Three Elements of Assertive Communication
1. Energize Your Sentences From Start to Finish
Many people start sentences with energy but trail off toward the end. This makes you sound uncertain or disengaged.
Weak: “My question is, I want to be able to communicate more assertively…”
Strong: “My question is: how do I communicate more assertively when dealing with senior stakeholders?”
Maintain the same energy level throughout the entire sentence. Don’t let your voice fade.
2. End Sentences on a Lower Pitch
This cannot be overstated. Ending on a lower pitch is the single most important vocal adjustment for sounding authoritative.
If you struggle with this habit, practice negative practice:
- First, deliberately count to 10 ending each number on a HIGH pitch
- Then, count to 10 ending each number on a LOW pitch
This brings the unconscious habit to your conscious awareness, making it easier to correct.
3. Eliminate Filler Words
Words like “um,” “uh,” “like,” and “you know” drain authority from your message. They create the impression of uncertainty.
Replace filler words with pauses.
Silence feels uncomfortable at first, but it projects confidence. A pause gives you time to think and shows you’re choosing your words carefully.
Assertive Body Language
How you hold your body shapes how people perceive your confidence:
- Sit or stand straight (posture matters even on virtual calls)
- Use deliberate hand gestures (pointing, open palms)
- Maintain eye contact (or look at the camera on video calls)
- Take up space (don’t shrink yourself)
Assertive body language reinforces assertive vocal delivery. When combined, they create undeniable presence.
Overcoming the Fear of Judgment
One of the biggest barriers to assertive communication is fear—fear of being judged, criticized, or rejected for speaking up.
The Truth About Judgment
Nobody thinks about you as much as you think they do.
This sounds harsh, but it’s liberating. Most people are focused on their own concerns, not analyzing your every word. Even when someone does judge you, that thought is fleeting—they move on within minutes.
As Mark Twain said: “You worry less about what people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.”
The Three-Step Process
Step 1: Learn the Truth
Understand intellectually that people aren’t obsessing over you. This is a documented psychological phenomenon called the spotlight effect.
Step 2: Experience the Truth
Knowledge alone isn’t enough. You have to face the fear and see what actually happens. Share your ideas. Speak up in meetings. Post your thoughts online.
You’ll discover that even when someone disagrees or criticizes you, life goes on. The consequences aren’t as severe as you imagined.
Step 3: Understand the Truth
After repeated experiences, the lesson becomes embodied. You stop fearing judgment because you’ve proven to yourself—through lived experience—that it doesn’t matter.
This process takes time. But it’s the only way to genuinely overcome the fear.
Dealing With Chronic Complainers
Sometimes the communication challenge isn’t about you—it’s about managing someone who constantly complains without offering solutions.
The Coaching Habit Framework
Use this three-question framework to guide complainers toward productive thinking:
Question 1: “What’s on your mind?”
Let them vent completely. Don’t interrupt. Let them take a full “emotional breath.”
Follow up with: “What else? Tell me more.”
Keep asking until they’ve exhausted everything bothering them.
Question 2: “What’s the main problem?”
After they’ve vented, ask them to identify the core issue:
“With everything you’ve shared, what do you think is the main problem here?”
This shifts them from complaining to critical thinking. They have to consolidate their complaints into one central issue.
Question 3: “How can I help?”
Don’t solve their problem for them. Let them tell you what they need:
“How can I help you with this?”
Often, they’ll come up with the solution themselves—or realize the problem isn’t as big as they thought.
Why This Works
This framework empowers people to solve their own problems instead of making you responsible. You’re not using mental energy to fix their issues—you’re simply asking strategic questions that guide them to clarity.
And they’ll give you all the credit, even though they did the work.
The Power of Small Changes
You don’t need to overhaul your entire communication style. In the coaching sessions covered here, most people made just three adjustments:
- Energizing sentences from start to finish
- Ending on a lower pitch
- Removing filler words with strategic pauses
Those three changes transformed how people were perceived—more authoritative, more confident, more trustworthy.
Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to change everything at once. Pick one technique. Practice it deliberately for a week. Then add another.
Changing communication habits takes time, especially if you’ve been repeating them for years. But improvement happens faster than you think when you practice with intention.
Key Takeaways
- To stop interruptions: End sentences on a lower pitch and increase your vocal/physical presence
- When overwhelmed by questions: Ask which question they want answered first—this buys time and creates clarity
- For assertive communication: Energize full sentences, end on lower pitches, and eliminate filler words
- Body language matters: Even on phone calls, your posture and movement affect your voice quality
- Fear of judgment fades: Learn the truth, experience the truth, understand the truth—in that order
- Managing complainers: Use the three-question framework: What’s on your mind? What’s the main problem? How can I help?
- Small changes create big impact: Focus on 2-3 behaviors at a time rather than trying to fix everything
- Practice makes permanent: Use negative practice to bring unconscious habits to conscious awareness
Take Action
Knowledge without practice is just entertainment. Choose one technique from this guide and use it in your next conversation.
Start with ending sentences on a lower pitch—it’s the simplest change with the biggest impact. Record yourself speaking for 5 minutes, then listen back. Count how many times you end on a high pitch versus a low pitch.
That awareness alone will start changing the behavior.