Have you ever been mid-sentence speaking when someone cuts you off and runs away with the conversation? It can feel rude and frustrating.As a communication expert and the author of “Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons,” I work with many high-performing professionals who tend to listen before they speak. When they finally muster up the courage to chime in, they often find themselves overshadowed by the loud, dominant people in the room.If someone interrupts you, here’s what you can do:1. Stay anchoredThe first step is managing what’s going on inside your head when this happens. Being interrupted can feel jarring, and it’s easy to take it personally. If you’re feeling anger or shock, take a breath, look away, and then focus on your next steps. Stay grounded and make your next move with clarity and conviction. 2. Say their nameAfter you’ve taken a moment to recalibrate, reclaim the floor by actually saying the name of the person who interrupted you. Research shows hearing your own name immediately captures your attention and signals a shift in the conversation. Stay neutral and matter of fact, and aim for a lower pitch to convey authority. In my experience, the interrupter will pause and look toward you, which is your opportunity to chime back in. Just don’t wait too long; at a certain point, the conversation will move on and you’ll lose your chance to make a point that lands.3. Use a bridge phraseNow that you have the attention of the interrupter and others in the room, use a bridging phrase to segue back to your train of thought:“That’s an interesting point and I want to go back to what I was saying before…”“Thanks for your perspective, but let me finish this point.” “I think you’re onto something, it’s why it makes sense that…”4. Respond to pushbackIn some cases, a colleague will continue to speak over you, perhaps deliberately. You have two options:Call it outStand even more firm by calling out exactly what’s happening in a clear direct way. For example:“I’ve been trying to get through this point a few times now. I’d love to finish it.” “I want to make sure my thoughts are fully heard before we move on. Can I have just a moment to complete it?”In both examples, you’re specifically stating your expectations.Address the interruption privatelyAfter the meeting, pull the person aside and name what you observed. Keep it calm and reference the specific meeting when the interruptions happened. You might say:“I noticed I kept getting cut off when I was speaking today. I want to make sure we can find a better rhythm going forward.” “I wanted to check in with you after yesterday’s team meeting. I felt like I was having a hard time getting my thoughts out without being cut off. I don’t think it was intentional, but I wanted to mention it so we can be more mindful of it next time.”Most people will course correct when confronted one-on-one.5. Follow up to make sure you get your point acrossFinally, if you feel like the interruption has prevented you from effectively sharing what you wanted to say, use multiple communication channels to follow up. For instance, send an email or Slack message out to the group or reiterate it at another meeting to ensure the point gets across.Regardless of any interruptions, research says people need to hear a message multiple times before it sticks. So reiterate it and follow up with conviction. People will respect you for it. Jessica Chen, the founder and CEO of Soulcast Media, has taught over 2 million people how to elevate their communication skills. She’s a keynote speaker and a former Emmy-Award Winning TV journalist. Her book “Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons” teaches smart professionals how to develop workplace confidence and build a career they love using strategic communications skills to stand out. Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn and Instagram. Want to get ahead at work? Then you need to learn how to make effective small talk. In CNBC’s new online course, How To Talk To People At Work, expert instructors share practical strategies to help you use everyday conversations to gain visibility, build meaningful relationships and accelerate your career growth. Sign up today!