When office gossip is about you

When you overhear colleagues disparaging your project (Pixland)

Q: At my company, we have an open floor plan with few private offices. That means that nothing one says at work is really private. What should I do if I hear someone, who obviously doesn't know I am nearby, talking about me — especially when they are disparaging a project I am leading? 

A. No matter how long it has been since secondary school, people are naturally wounded when others talk about them. But in the workplace, it’s important to suppress the urge to snap back with a rejoinder. And you can’t sulk.
First, remember that it can be easy to misunderstand what you hear, so make sure that the person is talking about you before you go further. Consider whether there is another colleague with your name, or a related project that your colleague might have been badmouthing.