While some of us enjoy a lively debate with colleagues and others prefer to suppress our feelings over disagreements, we all struggle with conflict at work. Every day we navigate an office full of competing interests, clashing personalities, limited time and resources, and fragile egos. Sure, we share the same overarching goals as our colleagues, but we don't always agree on how to achieve them. We work differently. We rub each other the wrong way. We jockey for position.

You have to talk with a colleague about a fraught situation, but you're worried that they'll yell or blame you or shut down. You fear your emotions could block you from a resolution. But you can communicate in a way that's constructive - not combative.