Avoiding difficult conversations doesn't make them go away. 

"Individuals become leaders because people trust and believe in them," says Mario Cibarra in his Entrepreneur article. "They live up to their word, honor boundaries, treat everyone equitably, and hold others accountable when crossing a line."

Here are three ways to manage difficult conversations at work while keeping your relationships intact.

It's okay to disagree."Leaders who promote diversity are responsible for creating an inclusive and safe space to protect and refine those values within a team," mentions Cibarra. "Having those tough conversations grants you the opportunity to disagree and understand what side of that boundary someone might fall on."

Poking holes can be a good thing. "An ethical leader needs to establish boundaries for their team to feel safe and grow, but also allow people to question those boundaries in a healthy way," suggest Cibarra. "If someone falls out of line with the company's diversity policies, first, give them an opportunity to open their minds with a conversation."

Hard conversations are for learning, not winning. "Being open to hearing another's experiences is an opportunity to understand better their opinion and how it might be affecting their work or the team," says Cibarra. "Leaders demonstrate a willingness to listen to disparate points of view, not to let someone else win, but to determine whether this person's disagreement can be regarded as aligned with their organization."