Hi John,

What do you do when someone dominates the conversation? If you’re like most, you probably listen in irritated silence. Joseph Grenny offers an alternative to such practice. If you have other ideas, share them in the comments section.

Responding to Someone Who Dominates the Conversation
by Joseph Grenny

I have a coworker who dominates nearly every conversation. She is outspoken, brash, and often has no filter. Sometimes the things she says are uncomfortably candid. I don’t think she is a bad person, but I often find myself drained after speaking with her. How should I approach this?

Signed,
Exhausted

It sounds like your colleague is insensitive but not ill-intended. She doesn’t follow the same rules of politeness that you do. That puts a burden on you in two ways: 

  1. It requires you to be more aware of your tendency to take offense when it isn’t intended.
  2. It makes you more responsible for demanding airtime that other people naturally grant you.
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