TAKING THE FLOOR OR TURN-TAKING
Turn-taking is practiced in our everyday encounter with friends, acquaintances, and colleagues
workplace. There is an exchange of ideas, opinions, sentiments and thoughts wherein everyone is given
the chance to take the floor. Knowing the considerations in taking the floor creates a wholesome
communication environment where there are no communication breakdowns. During conversations,
meetings and other consultative events, the knowledge on turn-taking makes a productive discussion on
matters that need to be clarified, to be given solutions and to be enhanced. The idea of giving each
participant to take the floor and express opinions and suggestions makes a more meaningful and valid
decision making activities. Learning about taking the floor or turn-taking makes one improves his/her
communicative skills.
WHAT IS TAKING THE FLOOR OR TURN-TAKING?
Taking the floor or turn-taking is a communication strategy which primary idea is to give each
participant the chance to speak. It is the process by which speakers do speak one at a time in alternating
turns. This strategy involves different procedures and processes in responding to queries and comments
using varieties of verbal and non-verbal communication.
WAYS OF TAKING THE FLOOR
Turn-taking requires correct timing and cooperation to avoid conflicts among speakers during
meetings, conferences and conversations. There are many ways that could be employed in taking-turns:
1. Recognizing when to take a turn
Consider the ending signals of speakers
Speak when you are called to
2. Signaling when you want to speak and to interrupt
Raise your hand to be recognized
Asked the one speaking to give you the floor to avoid overlapping
Interrupt politely
3. Holding the floor during your turn
Speak sincerely with the message you want to point out
Give yourself the chance to express your opinions
Show how strong you are or not with your opinions
Support your arguments with enough details
Express disagreement in a polite manner
Avoid generalizing
4. Recognizing when others want to speak
Stop and end the interruption politely
End your turn with transition markers
PRINCIPLES OF TURN-TAKING
Interruptions in conversations or meetings are violations of the rules of turn-taking. There is
interruption when a new speaker interrupts and takes the floor until finishes what to say. To interrupt is
to disturb to halt an on-going process or action by a sudden interference. Overlapping happens when
two speakers are speaking at the same time. This is also discouraged during conversations. Another
interruption is butting in where a new speaker tries to gain the floor but does not succeed.
Participants should take in mind that each speaker take turns in speaking which provides a manner of
orderly conversation. In conversation, overlap happens which means there is simultaneous talk between
two or more speakers because of the desire to start a turn before another in order not to miss the
opportunity and to extend over and partly cover something. In conversations, there are two kinds of
overlap that help make a spontaneous move of communication within the group:
1. Competitive Overlap – this kind of overlap explains how one speaker dominates a conversation or
how a listener might take some power back with different interrupting ways. The speaker has the
intention to steal the floor and to attract the attention away from the on-going speech. Pointing out a
negative situation, requesting new information, explaining a failure and elaborating a process are
examples of this.
2. Cooperative Overlap – This kind of overlap entails a description on how a listener might ask for
clarification on a point or add to the conversation with further examples that support the speaker’s
point. This is a face-to-face interaction in which one speaker talks at the same time as another speaker
shows interest and agreement with the idea that is being raised. Example of this is a conversation
between two persons of equal rank like two friends. But when the overlap occurred between two
persons with a higher and a lower rank like a boss and a subordinate, it is called an interruption.
POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK
There are some factors to consider when it is your turn to speak. There are at times that conversation
breakdown happens because of cultural differences and misinterpretation of intentions. There are also
undesirable overlaps that occur so a speaker must also know how to repair communication breakdown
in conversation. Here are some points to consider:
1. Keep your words relevant and reasonably short
Discuss only the important points
Be time conscious
Remember that you are not the only speaker
2. Be polite even if you are trying to take the floor from another speaker
Speak with kind words as you take the floor
Maintain a positive tone
3. Do not talk incessantly without letting other parties air their own idea.
Saying just enough is better than speaking too much
Give others the chance to speak
4. To acknowledge others, you may employ visual signals
You can have a smile, a nod, or a step back
