It happens in every office. Opinions differ. Conflicts occur. Tempers flare.

How do you keep your cool when situations in the office get “hot”? There’s the tried-and-true method of counting to 10, but let’s face it, that’s sometimes not enough and there’s usually not enough time to count to 100 (or 1,000).

So, in the interest of promoting office peace, harmony and understanding, here are just a few more ways you can stay cool in “hot” situations:

Take a few deep breaths – it’ll help reduce stress and relieve tension, and also give you a quick second to control your emotions and assess the situation.

Keep your voice low – a soft tone says you’re the one in control. Yelling only makes the other people angry and defensive.

Keep things in the proper perspective – try to resist the temptation to blow things out of proportion. Stay away from words like “always” and “never” when you talk—they paint way too broad of a generalization.

Now perhaps the best time to work on staying cool is before situations get hot. Take note of these preventative measures:

Recognize your specific “anger triggers” – do you get upset more at a certain time of the day? When you’re tired, hungry or extremely busy? Recognizing these “triggers” might help you pick the right time to resolve differences.

Take better care of yourself – exercise, meditate, eat right and sleep tight and you’ll be better able to relieve stress and control your anger.

Be prepared – let’s face it, “hot” situations are a fact of life in the office. Recognizing this beforehand can help give you the time to decide how you’ll deal with conflicts before they arise.