I have a coworker that I just can’t stand. He is good at his job, but I struggle to get along with him because he’s so opinionated and narrow-minded. He has an opinion about everything and can’t fathom any other viewpoint. I’d rather go to the dentist than be in a meeting with him. What am I supposed to do? Should I have a conversation with him about it or just let it go?

How do you keep working with members in your team when they verbally attack you and management doesn’t advocate for you or validate the incident? I literally feel a panic attack coming on when I know I will be in a meeting with a certain person.

I have taken your course, but I’ve hit a wall. A coworker comes into my office, closes the door and starts talking about her husband, cat, children, etc. How do I tell her I don’t want to discuss this with her?

The political climate feels overwhelming, and I often hear strong opinions at work that don’t align with mine. I value Crucial Conversations and know the skills can help, but I also feel vulnerable and unsure whether discussion of politics belongs in the workplace. Is it okay to stay silent without damaging relationships or credibility? How do I find the right balance between authenticity and self-protection?

I need help addressing crosstalk in virtual meetings. During meetings I can see people trying to discreetly type and I can see facial expressions. I’m trying to ignore it and not let it bother me, but it’s distracting, and I fear its hurting morale. To be candid, I think it’s immature, unprofessional, and it feels like middle school behavior, but I don’t know how to address this or if I even should. What’s the best way to handle this?

My wife recently looked at cemetery plots for the two of us. She wants us to be buried alongside her family. When I told her I don’t want to be buried, she took that as a personal rejection. How can I discuss end-of-life planning with her without causing her to shut down?

My brother is sixty-one and lost his wife ten months ago. He has now bottomed out. I have no idea how to help him. I listen, say what I can. I think he would benefit from grief counseling. He seems to be unable to move forward. He has no children. Is there anything I can do?

I’m in a crisis with my husband. For years we have been at each other, and I’d like to change that. I only recently learned how to set a boundary—and I’m 55—but I’m struggling to hold a boundary with my husband around name-calling. I don’t want him to call me names, but stopping the argument or refusing to engage feels confrontational and counterproductive, even selfish. How can I set boundaries with him without making matters worse?