Welcome to a timely series of Real Conversations from the C-Suite with my dear friend and colleague, Ms. Terri Wilson, founder and CEO of Doing HR Differently.  This month’s focus is on discussing hot topics without torching relationships.  If you truly value a relationship, sometimes it’s best to simply forgo discussing hot topics altogether. Think about conversations surrounding politics, diversity, or any other issue that can quickly become heated. Are these conversations worth sacrificing your bond with the person on the other side of the table? Hopefully, the answer is often no. When we prioritize the relationship, we can make a conscious decision to hold back, not because we don’t care about the issue, but because we care MORE about maintaining mutual respect.