Your colleague sent you a passive-aggressive email and you want to sit down and address it face to face. Or perhaps you’ve got some tough feedback you need to give to a coworker. Or maybe you’ve decided to discuss some growing tension on your team with your boss. When you’ve resolved to talk through a difficulty with a colleague, it’s tempting to have the conversation immediately. No better time than the present, right? Well, not quite. When you’re talking about a conflict, emotions often run high and going into the conversation cold may set you up for an unproductive, contentious debate. Taking time to prepare mentally will help you remain calm, increase the chances that the conversation will go smoothly, and improve the ultimate solution.