Difficult conversations are…well…difficult. There's no sugarcoating it. Whether you're addressing performance issues, navigating conflict between team members, or confronting your own manager about a concern, these conversations trigger every self-preservation instinct we have. Our palms sweat. Our hearts race. We mentally rehearse what we'll say at 2 AM, crafting the perfect words we'll probably forget the moment we sit down.

"When you don't set clear boundaries, you're handing over control of your life to people who don't have the same investment in your well-being that your family does."