Instead, I go: «you are distracting us».
What to do when interrupted while speaking
When someone in the audience is disruptive — talking, provoking, or trying to steal attention — it’s tempting to shut him down. But here’s the catch: during a presentation, the audience sees itself as a collective, as «us».
If you say, «You’re getting in the way of my talk», the audience will subconsciously think, «So, we’re the ones in the way now?». Even though they might hate the hooligans guts at this point, the people will turn against you.
I let the audience have my back
Instead, if someone deliberately sabotages the talk, you may go: «Sir, you are distracting us. We are here for [a serious reason]. You are getting in the way of your colleagues.» Now, the tables have turned. It’s no longer you vs them — it’s us vs the disruptor. The audience will now have your back.
Bonus tip
This technique works best if used after establishing eye contact in the beginning of the talk. Read how I do it in this short article.
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