Taking some of the stress off can also create an opportunity for deepening the communication with your supervisor or colleagues. By letting go of the weird shame woven into the situation, you'll remember that you still have the power to shape the dialogue, tissues in hand. "Women tend to over-apologize, especially at work. If you do end up getting upset, it can be helpful to excuse yourself from the situation, take a minute to get it together, and come back ready to have a more composed exchange. Don't feel like you have to fall down the rabbit hole of saying 'sorry' over and over again,” Gerstley advises. "Our feelings are invested in our careers, and having a human moment with someone in the office can be spun as a positive."