How can I address being talked over by my boss's boss?

[Iwannachangerealbad]

My bosses boss is talking over me during meetings. Politically she runs the show but I’m getting really annoyed about this and she’s been saying my communication isn’t good to my boss. Yet when I email or IM she doesn’t reply! How do I firmly tell her to stop!

I would bet £100 it's this: your boss has slagged you off to his boss. Blamed you for something: "her communication skills are terrible, boss." Now Big Boss is talking over you in meetings as a demonstration to your boss of how to deal with crap underlings. Don't let the useless sods witter on; slap them down. See how I do it. And don't engage in conversation with them. Never apologise, never explain. It's the standard British management modus operandi.

Been there. Don't try to fight it; they hold all the cards. You're not dealing with reasonable people here. Get what you want in other ways.

Right. Killed that one stone dead then. 🤔

Well a good first reply is hard to follow.

Not sure you can. She’s the boss. A bad one for sure. Maybe think - ok pay me to do fxxx all if you prefer as you don’t need my professional input 🤷‍♀️

Talks over you in what way? Are you presenting something to a meeting and she interrupts your flow, or does she interject when you speak up about something so you have to give way because she is more senior?

Does she chair the meetings? If not, then quietly fold your arms and sit back whenever she does it, and cast a sidelong glance at the Chair.

I've sometimes found that senior female bosses find you a threat, and take great exception to up-and-coming women from the more junior ranks. They like to step firmly on any potential competition early.

Just continue to talk. Dont let her talk over you.

Huh? How can you stop someone higher than you thinking you’re not very good? Um….

👆 Yes just continue and finish what you were saying - draws everyone’s attention to how rude she’s being. I do this with my MIL

It actually makes the person who steamrolls ahead look Truck - like and deaf.

Ive been in this position and it tends to go one of 2 ways. the first the person is a bit socially unaware or has a bit of ADHD and just says things as soon as they think it. These people you can gently say oh can you just let me finish that point and they say omg I’m so sorry etc. or if on teams you can say is there a connection issue because our voices are overlapping (something like that)

sadly and more common is what the first response said and pointing it out will make it worse for you which fucking sucks tbh

Thank you! Actually, I think I was being a bit cynical there. @FrankieNeverRelax your first option sounds very plausible. I sympathise, OP; I blimmin' hate it when people just talk over me, whoever they are. It all comes down to the ethos of your workplace; if that sort of behaviour can't be called out, or at least drawn attention to, without negative consequences, that really sucks.