Handling a skeptic in a group setting is one of the most revealing tests of leadership. Most skeptics aren’t trying to cause problems; they’re uncertain or testing your credibility before they commit. Absorbing resistance without flinching keeps you in control without elevating the challenge into a confrontation. Curiosity redirects a challenge faster than explanation, asking “What part feels off to you?” moves the skeptic from attitude to substance. Redirecting toward shared outcomes brings the group back to common ground. Opening the concern to the room breaks the one-on-one tension and shows you can lead without having all the answers. The skeptic who seemed like a disruption becomes the person who gets everyone talking.

source: https://unblindedmastery.com/how-to-handle-a-skeptic-disrupting-group-energy/