You know the feeling when things get tense in a meeting. People raise their voices, or your colleagues talk over each other — and you just want it to end. Instead of watching the clock, take action and help get the conversation back on track. First, point out what’s happening in a matter-of-fact way, without assigning blame. You might say, “We’ve been talking for 25 minutes, and we seem to be just repeating the same arguments. Do others agree?” Then offer a way forward that makes sure everyone is heard and will prevent emotional flare-ups. For example, you can say, “Carmine, how about we hear you out, then we’ll summarize your position to make sure we understand it. Then we can do the same with Kay’s view. Will that work for everyone?” Once the whole group has agreed on a process, you can continue the conversation productively.

Source: Adapted from “How to Save a Meeting That’s Gotten Tense,” by Joseph Grenny