How do you effectively confront people who are spreading negative rumors about you?

I cant say there is one right way. Personally, I would like if it were just heresay and a mistake but not everyone has everyones best interest in mind. I think what helped me most was prior to confronting the person trying to gather facts on what was said and if it could have been an hinest error. Without proof its also possible that the person has the potential of not admiting having said anything at all and gaslighting. Having others with information present did help back up claims. In cases where a person continued to lie, it became apparent to me they had not my best interest as a concern for them. In thoses cases, I ask why the person may have spread rumors? If theres an adjustment then its possible for me to make it. If I cannot resolve it then I may gather evidence of the rumors and present the problem to others who are hearing the rumors especially an trustworthy authority or leadership. At least there were times where this strategy allowed me to defend myself with facts so that the next time people were either more cautious in hearing the rumor or it slowed the rumors down. In the end, I have to remember that if people are willing to believe or spread lies even after steps were taken to stop the negative words perhaps those people were not meant to persaude but at best I made an attempt to reconcile. If they're not willing to hear me it will eventially be time to separate myself.

Negative people are just that: negative. When someone’s mission seems to be taking you down a peg, it can be infuriating,” if you’re out there doing you, and they’re out there mostly focused on you and how you’re a terrible such-and-such, then over time, it actually makes them look bad, not you.”Will this matter in a week? A month? Or a year? Probably not. Let that assuage you.Living the right way and practicing what we preach is the best way to ensure that the negativity dies on the vine. If you’re consistently helping people get what they want, making useful introductions and being open and positive, then it will be hard for others to believe negative rumors about you when they meet you