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No-Flirt Zone When someone flirts with you, don't get mad . . . get professional.

By Cynthia E. Griffin

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Your husband must be very proud of you." When Gilda Piccolihears that phrase from a man, she knows exactly what'shappening.

"He's flirting with me," says the 28-year-oldowner of Warwick, Rhode Island, IDK Promotional Specialty Co.,which imprints company logos on creative promotional products."I run across this all the time. I do a lot of trade shows,and when I'm in the booth, men come up to me. They kind of beataround the bush, acting as if they're interested in theproduct. But they really want to know more about me--my backgroundand whether I'm married."

Instead of getting angry and confrontational, Piccoli firmlysteers the conversation back to business. And that's exactlywhat she should do, says Marina Grant, president of GrantCommunications, which specializes in employment law and conflictresolution. When someone makes an improper comment, "You needto proceed in a professional way and show you're not shaken byhis unprofessional behavior," says Grant.