"You seem nervous" / "That answer wasn't great" — how do you respond to a deliberate destabilizer?

How to answer

Acknowledge briefly and reset without crumbling: "Fair — let me take another pass at that." Then deliver a tighter answer calmly. Don't over-apologize, get defensive, or spiral. They're manufacturing pressure to see whether you recover; a composed second attempt is a win regardless of the first answer.

Key idea: Taking the bait personally, profusely apologizing, or arguing. The recovery is the test — show you can take a hit and keep performing.