Meryl, great advice. You ARE fortunate! I've had my share of the fumers and pouters!

Jen, I'd love to see you open the can, just to say I saw it! 🙂

Chantal, one day's not a bad idea. If it can't wait, and usually it can, then run it by someone. I have a husband who is my emotional barometer. I have writer friends who know the territory and will give great advice. A decent back-up plan if it can't wait.

I'm fortunate that the clients I work with and the people I've hired can all be professional. I'm friends with some and we know how to draw the line so we never take advantage.

If you're emotional — fuming, pouting, etc. to any degree after reading an email — walk away. Do not reply. Cool it before you do.

Paula, I'd trade you a few buckets of stoicism for some of the Irish and a dose of German precision. My stoicism is forced via email and the "sticks and stones" way of dealing with emotional fools.

When you finally get around to opening the Words on the Page store, this *has* to be on magnets, T-shirts, & banners that can be attached to airplanes & dragged across the skies 🙂

On the challenge of retaining one's professional demeanor, I always think back to my days in front of classrooms full of high school sophomores. My mindset when handling the inevitable conflicts that occurred there was that once I found myself in a public argument with a student, even if I "won" the argument, I still lost — by virtue of being baited into engaging in the first place.

As a teacher, I found that the best approach involved stating the facts in a quiet yet determined manner, remaining as dispassionate as possible, & finding some small way to give the student (or, in some cases, the parent) and opportunity to save some amount of face.

I think the same concepts hold true in professional conflicts. State the facts. Remain dispassionate. Give the other party a way to feel like they're contributing to a solution, rather than merely being forced to acquiesce (few folks respond well when backed against the proverbial wall).

Of course, if none of that works, chuck a paperweight at 'em (ideally, one emblazoned with "It's not OCD – it's intense professionalism.") 🙂

I don't lash out. I don't curse. I don't scream. (Occasionally, I will lecture, but only when I think it's warranted.) I typically take a breath and consider the most diplomatic recourse. Often, it's to compose a letter or e-mail calmly and rationally outlining my perspective.

Darn these Swedish genes. I had to get the stoicism instead of the blond hair.

Totally agree, Katharine. Email makes it easier. And it's not OCD – it's intense professionalism. 😉