Conflict is a regular occurrence in business, work and life. I often walk away from a difficult conversation and later kick myself when I realise what I should have said. I like to believe that I’m a fairly empathetic individual. Many of the characteristics around empathy are key to effectively engaging in a difficult conversation. However, my version of empathy can often be heavily weighted around my emotions. That can be advantageous, but unbalanced emotions in a moment of conflict can be fuel to a fire.