Jill, let me tell you a story ....
Some years ago when I was in management, they sent me on a middle management course. You'd expect people on such a course to be 'well behaved' wouldn't you?! It was about 70% women and multidisciplinary so nurses and office staff, etc. One of the office guys was recently out of the army where he had been a sergeant so naturally he seemed to have an answer for everything. Well, came a day we were put into groups of six to discuss communication and he really hogged the show! Don't know about the others but I kept taking a breath to speak and this chap would just roll on and on, hardly taking a breath. I mean, ironic or what!
Eventually the tutor managed to say something about the rest of us being quiet and I replied how 'some of us' would have liked to say something but felt intimidated by the loquaciousness of one person! This chap scoffed and said if 'people' couldn't speak up then they had nothing worth saying! That did it! I told him exactly what I felt even though my heart was pounding (I was extremely shy at the time!). I told him that just because some people were polite enough not to interrupt didn't mean they had nothing worthwhile to say and it was rude of him to dismiss them (me!) like that. I fully expected some disciplinary action for being so 'rude' but nothing came of it. One or two of the group muttered something in support and the group was closed.
The next day, I notice this chap was extremely quiet and mentioned to the tutor I hoped I hadn't upset him. The tutor laughed and told me that this man had been to him first thing that morning for advice; seemed he had lain awake all night worrying about what I'd said and wanted the tutor's honest opinion of if it was true! And he got it. I never met the ex-army chap again but I knew someone who worked with him and they asked me what had happened to him on the course as he was a changed man when he got back!
You just never know what your words will accomplish!