TIP#1
Be assertive, not aggressive
In all honesty, it is difficult to get this one right because it is very easy for you to come across as aggressive and being aggressive should never be the way to communicate but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a firm tone to your voice when speaking.
Being assertive is key to helping you through difficult conversations at the workplace. The thing to keep in mind is that you can be assertive while being emotionally engaged in the conversation too, you don’t have to be one or the other. Be genuinely interested and invested in the conversation.
Mini tip: Just remember to smile and pause to listen to your colleague to ease the tension a bit.