Do you know when to walk away?

When both sides feel passionately about a topic, it's important to keep calm, cool, and collected, says Brian Conrad, CVPM, practice manager at Meadow Hills Veterinary Center in Kennewick, Wash. "A discussion becomes an unproductive disagreement when the parties interrupt each other, shout, or use profanities. This is a signal that the team members need a cool-down period," he says. "When you resume the discussion, you may opt for a third-party mediator to help reach a peaceful resolution."