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Last updated on Feb 19, 2025
  1. All
  2. Soft Skills
  3. Presentation Skills

A colleague keeps undermining your points during the Q&A. How can you maintain your composure?

Dealing with a colleague who consistently undermines your points during Q&A sessions can be challenging. However, keeping your cool and responding effectively is crucial. Here are some strategies to help you navigate this situation:

  • Stay composed: Take a deep breath and maintain a calm demeanor to project confidence.

  • Address the behavior: Politely acknowledge the interruption and steer the conversation back to your point.

  • Seek support: Enlist the help of a moderator to ensure fair turn-taking during the discussion.

How do you handle interruptions during important discussions? Share your strategies.

Presentation Skills Presentation Skills

Presentation Skills

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Last updated on Feb 19, 2025
  1. All
  2. Soft Skills
  3. Presentation Skills

A colleague keeps undermining your points during the Q&A. How can you maintain your composure?

Dealing with a colleague who consistently undermines your points during Q&A sessions can be challenging. However, keeping your cool and responding effectively is crucial. Here are some strategies to help you navigate this situation:

  • Stay composed: Take a deep breath and maintain a calm demeanor to project confidence.

  • Address the behavior: Politely acknowledge the interruption and steer the conversation back to your point.

  • Seek support: Enlist the help of a moderator to ensure fair turn-taking during the discussion.

How do you handle interruptions during important discussions? Share your strategies.

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55 answers
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Rohan Kamat

    Solutions Architecture Leader at AWS

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    Maintaining composure when a colleague undermines you during a Q&A requires confidence, professionalism, and strategic communication. Stay Calm – Breathe and maintain a composed demeanor. Acknowledge & Redirect – Briefly acknowledge their perspective and steer the discussion back to your point. Use Data & Facts – Reinforce your points with evidence to prevent dismissal. Address Privately if Needed – If it’s a pattern, discuss their intent and set boundaries. Stay Professional, Not Defensive – Avoid confrontation; focus on collaboration rather than competition.

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    Neeraj Gupta

    Senior Engineering Manager @ Zendesk

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    1. Stay calm and keep your cool during the situation. 2. Think before speaking or acting rather than reacting quickly. 3. If you know the answer to a question, share it. If you don’t know, let the person know you’re not sure now, but you’ll get back to them with the answer after your presentation.

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    6
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    Pjero Mardesic

    Business owner @ Adictd2grow Mindset Coach helping business owners find clarity and direction using our growth methodology. The sound board you didn’t think you needed!

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    First things first listen, listen, listen. Listen to somebody else’s point of view is always helpful so then you can understand what they’re thinking and where they’re thinking from. How do I keep my composure? He’s a lesson for everybody it’s easy to keep your composure when somebody else is questioning your point of view because it’s just their point of view. It has nothing to do with me. It has nothing to do with my feelings or emotions. All my values on my belief. It’s the other person’s point of view and that’s totally okay if they choose to undermine me. The next thing that I would do is ask them questions so that I can understand where they’re thinking from and what they think about the point.

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    5
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    Ketaki , Your Personal Branding Guide

    Creating Impact, Authentic Value Driven Transformation | Personal Branding Career Coach | Image Consultant | Soft Skills Corporate Trainer | LinkedIn Specialist

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    It's important to recognize patterns and stay composed in such situations. Be confident and assertive when speaking up by saying something like, "I appreciate your input. Let me quickly finish my point, and I’d love to hear your perspective next." Remaining calm and composed in such environments is always beneficial.

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    5
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    Syed Asif Hussain

    Business finance & strategy specialist, Data driven decision maker, Senior management reporting, Planning & budgeting, Compliance, Audit & Internal Controls, Income Tax

    • Report contribution

    In a very light and professional tone, give a reality check, answer with good logic and maintain a smiling face all time during the session.

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