Have you ever felt that heart-pounding anxiety before entering a difficult conversation? The kind where your mouth goes dry, your hands get clammy, and a tiny voice inside whispers, “Maybe I should just avoid this altogether”? I’ve been there more times than I care to admit. Difficult conversations are exactly that – difficult – but they’re also inevitable parts of our personal and professional lives. Whether it’s addressing a performance issue with a team member, discussing relationship boundaries with a partner, or confronting a friend who has hurt your feelings, these conversations require a delicate balance of courage, empathy, and…