How do you handle disruptive participants without losing focus?

In the face of disruptive audience members, embrace the opportunity to showcase your confidence and leadership. Maintain a calm and composed demeanor, stay focused and unwavering on the message you're delivering. Acknowledge the disruptor with respect, steering the presentation back to its intended topic. Recommend they follow up with you afterward when you can directly address their request. Remember, you set the tone for the room. Immediately establish a tone of encouraging engagement. For anyone who challenges your vibe, extend an invitation to join the discussion. Your practice and preparation are a shield and a target that will help you navigate any disruptions while continuing to empower and uplift your audience.

I was presenting at a workshop about conflict. There was a man who kept interrupting, saying he had tried a listening technique that I was teaching and it didn't work for him. Without him being aware of it, I was demonstrating the very technique he was saying didn't work. I was respectfully listening while asking clarifying questions and paraphrasing his answers back to him. After several minutes, he said "That's exactly what didn't work!" I reminded him that these skills really do work when we use them. He felt heard and settled down so I could continue.

Acknowledge their voice, opinions and state your own truth there after gently but firmly requesting them to allow the main intention to unfold.

As one who has experienced self image limiting beliefs, this step although very important, it is also very challenging because it can serve as a trigger for image insecurity issues. Subjecting oneself to the scrutiny of others takes a lot of courage that’s why I encourage my clients to balance out their reflection/feedback by focusing on 3 positive things they did well for every 1 thing they didn’t. This strategy helps ensure that we stay in a positive mindset to be able to view the feedback as an opportunity for growth and development and less as a personal attack on their self image.

One thing I have found helpful has been to manage expectations by presenting the flow of the presentation. In order to manage the expectations of an audience where I am about to present on a contentious topic I express behavioral expectations which point out this is a challenging topic and our goal is to learn and grow. Included in behavioral expectations is how we will address disagreement. I conclude with “Does everyone agree with these expectations?” or “Is this acceptable for everyone?” When someone asks a question that is derailing, I acknowledge the question and refer back to the expectations we agreed on.