Conversations are the building blocks of relationships. When they go well, they help build strong, satisfying relationships, leading to success at work and happiness in our personal lives. When they go badly, we lose jobs and friendships, children leave home, marriages break down. Sometimes we choose not to speak up at all and to exist, emotionally shut down, coping from day to day. It takes skill to make conversations safe on sensitive topics, with difficult people, when opinions are strong, when we argue about rights and wrongs, and when the stakes are high. • Speaking up to a toxic, bullying colleague • Saying no to people who take advantage of you • Confronting someone about their negative, depressing, attitude • Talking about a sensitive issue in your marriage You may be willing to speak up in difficult conversations. But without the skill to make them safe, you can easily do more harm than good.