If you are interrupted during a presentation firstly stay calm-the first reaction perhaps is to react & interrupt them! Take a breath, listen and gently guide them by acknowledging their opinion, emphasising your interest in learning more about that talking point after you wrap up your thought. Ask them to think of anything more they could add to your conversation when they pick back up on their end. Humour is always my go to, and might say "probably best let me finish before I lose my train of thought, the blonde brain cells are close to empty."

Acknowledge and Redirect: Politely thank your colleague for their input and steer the conversation back to your main points. Use phrases like, “That’s a great point, let’s circle back to it after I finish this section.” This shows respect while maintaining focus. Clear Boundaries: If interruptions persist, calmly address the issue by saying, “I’d like to finish this thought before we discuss further.” Maintain a confident tone to assert your control without appearing confrontational or dismissive. Engage: Address the audience directly, emphasizing your key message to refocus their attention. Use visuals or rhetorical questions to reinforce your points, guiding the discussion back on track while keeping the spotlight on your presentation.

If a colleague keeps interrupting during a presentation, stay calm and respectful. Wait until they finish, then politely thank them and say, “I’ll cover that in a moment,” or “Let me finish this point first, and then we can discuss it.” Keep eye contact with the audience to keep their focus on you. Gently guiding the conversation back to your main points shows you’re confident and in control. By staying polite but firm, you set a boundary that lets you keep the spotlight without creating tension, allowing you to continue delivering your message smoothly.

Interruptions are just like stop signs. You stop and follow the flow of traffic and you keep going. If answering the question supports the content you are sharing, answer the question. If answering the question diverts from the content you are sharing, kindly reestablish your lead communication role by saying: “Thank you for that question, can you jot that down on paper? I’ll leave room for questions at the end. Or “That’s a great question. We’re headed down that street. Hold that question nearby.” Then continue. When presenting, you’re the driver.

Interrupted during a presentation? Take it in stride and own the moment! ?? Stay composed—pause, make eye contact, and address the interjection calmly. Acknowledge their input, then steer it back with something like, ‘That’s a great point; let’s dive into it after I wrap this section.’ Finally, reinforce your last statement to refocus the audience. ?? Remember, interruptions can showcase your professionalism and control.