Research: What Interruptions Reveal About Company Culture

Workplace culture is shaped less by mission statements or engagement initiatives than by everyday interaction patterns—especially interruptions in meetings. A study of 27 employees and leaders found that women and employees from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups were interrupted more frequently, often before completing their ideas. Many participants adapted by speaking less, self-censoring, or withdrawing from discussions altogether. Leaders can build more equitable, psychologically safe cultures by recognizing interruption patterns, slowing conversations down, and actively protecting people’s contributions in real time.