You and your co-worker have equal amounts of work. But despite starting at the company a year earlier than her, she’s the one who gets the promotion that you thought you were in line for. You’re good at your job and have seniority, so what gives? Well my friend, she outranks you in “soft skills.”

No matter what industry or level you are in your career, you might have already encountered instances that have required difficult conversations. No one loves the idea of having a difficult conversation or confronting someone—you worry about what you’re going to say, how you’ll be perceived and what the outcome will be.