What should I do when the interrupter is my boss?
Use respectful specificity: “Let me complete this point, and then I will come directly to your question.” You are not challenging the boss’s authority; you are protecting the clarity of the information being presented.
What happens when both people begin speaking accidentally?
Pause briefly and assess whether the overlap was genuinely accidental. One person can say, “Go ahead,” or, “Let me finish this sentence, then you.” Not every overlap requires the full three-stage response.
What if “Please, let me finish” still does not work?
Stop competing for volume and address the process directly: “We cannot understand either point while speaking simultaneously. I will complete mine, and then you will have the floor.” When the pattern is repeated and damaging, discuss it privately with the meeting chair or relevant manager.