How to Rebuild Rapport After Interrupting Someone in the Workplace with ADHD

PostedNovember 5, 2025

UpdatedNovember 6, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Victoria Rowe, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

We all interrupt sometimes, but for adults with ADHD, impulsive speech can happen more often, especially under pressure or excitement. When this happens at work, you might walk away replaying the moment, worrying that you would come across as rude. The good news is that NHS-aligned and clinical research, repairing rapport is possible and often easier than you think.

Why it happens

ADHD affects the brain’s ability to pause before speaking. When emotions rise, inhibitory control weakens and words slip out before reflection catches up. A 2023 PubMed study by Rosenthal et al. found that emotion-related impulsivity is a key driver of conversational overlap, not lack of respect. Similarly, Turjeman-Levi et al. 2024 showed that executive-function gaps (like self-monitoring) can strain work relationships but respond well to coaching that builds pause-and-respond routines.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists notes that impulsive speech often harms rapport more through misinterpretation than intention. Most colleagues are not upset about what you said; they are reacting to how it felt in the moment.

How to repair the moment

Research consistently shows that authentic, brief acknowledgment works best. The RCPsych suggests simple repair language such as:

“I got a bit excited and cut across you, sorry, please continue.”

The Mind UK Big Mental Health Report (2025) reinforces that self-forgiveness and corrective empathy (“I didn’t mean to talk over you; I really value what you are saying”) rebuild trust faster than over-apologising. Studies reviewed by Lauder et al. 2022 found that CBT and mindfulness reduce impulsivity while strengthening self-compassion, key ingredients in sustainable rapport repair.

Strengthening trust over time

The NICE ADHD guideline NG87 recommends psychological therapies such as CBT, behavioural coaching, and emotional-regulation training to improve communication, pacing and confidence at work. Coaching programmes, including those referenced in Sage (2023), help adults practise mindful pausing and reflective listening until these skills become automatic.

From an organisational perspective, the CIPD Neuroinclusion Guide (2024) urge teams to normalise honest feedback and view ADHD expressiveness as enthusiasm rather than misconduct. Neuroinclusive workplaces make rapport repair a shared responsibility, not a personal flaw.

Behavioural-coaching services like Theara Change also apply mindfulness and compassion-based techniques to help people with ADHD strengthen emotional awareness and rebuild trust more confidently after communication misfires.

Takeaway

Interrupting does not define your professionalism; it is part of how the ADHD brain processes excitement and emotion. According to NICE and RCPsych guidance, quick acknowledgment, emotional self-regulation, and self-compassion are the most effective ways to repair rapport. With empathy and practice, relationships not only recover; they often grow stronger.

Victoria Rowe, MSc

Author

Victoria Rowe is a health psychologist with a Master’s in Health Psychology and a BS in Applied Psychology. She has experience as a school psychologist, conducting behavioural assessments, developing individualized education plans (IEPs), and supporting children’s mental health. Dr. Rowe has contributed to peer-reviewed research on mental health, including studies on anxiety disorders and the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare systems. Skilled in SPSS, Minitab, and academic writing, she is committed to advancing psychological knowledge and promoting well-being through evidence-based practice.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.