How should you prepare yourself for a conversation that might involve unwelcome information, such as a performance review from your boss?

a. Remind yourself where you stand in the corporate hierarchy;

it’s a waste of energy to dispute information coming from a superior.

b. Come armed with plenty of information to back up your position.

c. Bolster your confidence and determination by reminding yourself of how hard you work and how much you contribute to the organization, no matter what the boss says.

d. Remind yourself not to get defensive and to treat the conversation as an exchange of useful and important information.