Some people seem determined to make your life miserable by attacking every idea you suggest. Instead of getting angry or letting them shut you down, outsmart them with these tactics:

• Stand up for yourself. Calmly remind naysayers that your ideas deserve the same airing as those of anyone else. People who unfairly knock the ideas of others often back down once confronted.

• Call a timeout. If you find yourself being drawn into an argument during a meeting, suggest dealing with the problem later. This drags your nemesis out of the spotlight and likely makes you a hero to others at the table.

• Ask for evidence. Don’t let your critics blow your idea out of the water with vague statements. Make them explain exactly what they object to. Making doubters back up their bravado with facts often silences them.

• Acknowledge legitimate points. You can concede that your attackers may not be completely wrong without backing down from your main point. This tactic shows that you have an open mind while still projecting confidence in your idea.

—Adapted from Thinking on Your Feet: Tools to Communicate Clearly and Convincingly, by Marlene Caroselli (Crisp Learning)