Agreement Interrupt

Techniques > Conversation techniques > Interrupting > Agreement Interrupt

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Verbally and wholeheartedly agree with the person.

Be so enthusiastic that you cannot stop yourself from butting in and agreeing.

Then continue with whatever else you want to day.

You can also use a short interrupt, the shortest of which is 'yes'.

Example

Absolutely right! I couldn't agree more. And did you also know that...

Thank goodness! I was afraid you were going to say something else there.

Great idea. And what we could also include is...

I agree with your suggestion to start afresh and would suggest we begin tomorrow, at 9am.

Discussion

Agreement with the other person flatters them, boosting their sense of identity. When they see that you are on their side (and hence are not a threat) and are agreeing with them, they will more easily stop to accept their praise.

Note the difference between 'yes, but' and 'yes, and'. 'But' means 'everything that went before is wrong' and may result in them fighting the interrupt. 'Yes, and' appears to add to what they are saying and hence is more likely to be accepted.