Try your best to start your conversation with something positive, even it is "wanting to resolve the issue between you." If it comes from the heart and is true, you are increasing your likelihood of being heard and trusted. If this is a personal conversation, highlight how important the individual and the relationship are to you.

Talk to the whole individual, not just "the person you have an issue with" or "the worker bee." Humans bring their physical and emotional self everywhere they go. It is extremely hard to leave the emotions at home or to forget about work after hours. Honor this fact. In reality, you do not know what is going on for this person at work or in his/her private life.

Be clear about what you would like to discuss with this individual either before or at the beginning of the meeting, so you can focus on what needs to be resolved and do not go off on tangents. It is very easy to look for distractions, particularly for people who are not comfortable talking.

Stop the conversation if you find yourself being distracted, need to leave, or it gets out of hand. Resuming your talk later is better than to be rushed or regret something you might say but not mean.

Get into the habit of doing most of the listening

and less of the talking.

Pay attention to the verbal and non-verbal cues

that the other person has demonstrated in other occasions as well as during your conversations. Oftentimes people will say one thing with words but the body language communicates something different. Remember that over 90 percent of communication happens non-verbally.

"When in doubt, check it out!"

Assumptions are the worst conversation enemies. When you hear something that you are not sure about, particularly something that bothers you, ask the person what they meant or request further clarification. Do not automatically think the worst!

Intentionally communicate with your whole self.

If you can and know how to do it, match your body language cues to what you are saying or you risk losing credibility.

Find ways to show genuine interest in what the other person has to say.

Practice "quieting your mind." You do not have to have an answer ready at all times. And it’s ok to say, "I don’t know but I’ll find out and will get back to you," if necessary.