The conversation you go in, with the goal to get out. And this is what might help.
Know thy why
Understand why you are going in, what you are defending or trying to accomplish and why it’s a good idea to do that. Knowing yourself is the way to open up for the other. This way you can
Sell
Being there is not enough. You will have to sell, make sure what product you are selling and what the benefits are. If the product has no benefits, be sure that you have leverage.
Be prepared
Free wheeling a hard conversation is rarely a good idea. You may later find out that what happened in the conversation did not represent your future interests. Knowing what might happen will make you less surprised when it actually happens. That way you can be less emotional in the actual conversation: drastically improves communication quality.
So prepare scenario’s, know your product and know your why.
And when you’re there: Don’t be in the past, don’t be in the future. Be where you are and trust yourself.