Dina Denham Smith writes: “Managing sticky, emotionally loaded situations comes with the territory of leadership. When facing a situation that will be emotionally challenging, people often default to one of two unproductive responses. Many avoid thinking about it altogether, distracting themselves with low-priority tasks like emails. Others do the opposite—ruminating and worrying without taking meaningful steps to manage their anxiety or prepare. Both approaches tend to backfire, making us feel worse and leaving us less emotionally equipped when the moment arrives. Fortunately, there are proven ways to prepare yourself for meetings where emotions are bound to run high.”