Lifescripts What to Say to Get What You Want in Life's Toughest Situations

by Pollan, Stephen M.; Levine, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780471631019
• ISBN10: 0471631019
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-03-08
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

Excerpt from Lifescript #1: Asking for a Salary IncreaseIcebreaker: I'd like to thank you for the opportunity you and the company have given me. I recognize that you've been very influential in my growth and advancement. However, I have a problem that I need your help with.Pitch #1: What has happened is that I've been concentrating solely on my professional growth and haven't been paying any attention to my stream of income . . .Pitch #2: I think my salary no longer reflects my contribution to the company . . .Pitch #3: I think my salary no longer matches my job responsibilities . . .Whether you need to ask your boss to stop micromanaging, terminate a subordinate, confront a peer, or cold call a potential client, Lifescripts gives you the most effective approach-and the actual words-to use.The bestselling guide to self-improvement and success, Lifescripts has been completely revised and updated, taking a sharp self-help focus and adding more than 50 scripts that help you prepare for difficult conversations both inside and outside the office. Each of the 109 Lifescripts gives you a plan that leads to the desired result regardless of the obstacles thrown in your path. You get an icebreaker opener, a pitch, an answer to every question, and a defense for every attack. You'll also find strategic pointers on attitude, timing, preparation, and behavior.From dealing with human resources to confronting a backstabber to closing a deal, Lifescripts provides a road map to navigate successfully through the most perplexing, problematic dialogues you may face in the course of your life.

Author Biography

STEPHEN M. POLLAN has been a successful practicing attorney for over forty years. He offers pragmatic career, financial, business, and legal advice to individuals and businesses. Pollan was CNBC’s on-air personal finance expert for five years and is a frequent guest on the Today show and Good Morning America. He regularly contributes to Worth, New York, Money, and U.S. News & World Report. Pollan and coauthor Mark Levine have coauthored many books on business and personal finance, including Die Broke.

MARK LEVINE lives with his wife and two Newfoundlands in Ithaca, New York.

Table of Contents

Preface: The Continuing Power of Lifescripts	xi
PART I: LIFESCRIPTS FOR DEALING WITH SUPERIORS
Asking for a Salary Increase	3	(4)
Asking for a Promotion	7	(4)
Asking for Emergency Leave	11	(4)
Asking Your Superior for Maternity Leave	15	(4)
Asking Your Superior for Paternity Leave	19	(4)
Asking Your Superior for an Increased Budget	23	(4)
Breaking Bad News to a Superior	27	(4)
Maximizing a Performance Review	31	(4)
Asking for a Salary Advance	35	(4)
Justifying an Expense Report	39	(4)
Refusing an Assignment	43	(4)
Asking for a Deadline Extension	47	(4)
Asking for Relief from an Assignment	51	(4)
Asking Your Superior for Help with Your Workload	55	(4)
Asking Your Superior for a Bigger or More Private Workspace	59	(4)
Asking Your Superior for Additional Responsibilities	63	(4)
Asking Someone to Become Your Mentor	67	(4)
Asking for a Lateral Reassignment	71	(4)
Warning Your Superior of Potential Client Problems	75	(4)
Warning Your Superior of Potential Vendor Problems	79	(4)
Asking Your Superior for More Staff	83	(4)
Advocating a Subordinate's Raise Request to Human Resources	87	(4)
Setting Recruiting Goals with Human Resources	91	(4)
Protecting a Subordinate from a Possible Layoff	95	(4)
Defending a Subordinate against Criticism from Human Resources	99	(4)
Telling Your Superior Someone Else Took Credit for Your Idea	103	(4)
Asking Your Superior to Stop Micromanaging	107	(4)
Going over Your Superior's Head	111	(4)
Complaining about an Immediate Superior's Behavior	115	(4)
Apologizing to Your Superior for Your Own Backstabbing	119	(4)
Giving Two Weeks' Notice to Your Superior	123	(4)
Recommending an Incentive Plan for Yourself	127	(6)
PART II: LIFESCRIPTS FOR DEALING WITH SUBORDINATES
Criticizing a Subordinate's Work	133	(4)
Turning Down a Raise Request	137	(4)
Asking a Subordinate to Do Something Not in Her Job Description	141	(4)
Announcing a Salary Reduction	145	(4)
Warning a Subordinate to Stop Drinking	149	(4)
Turning Down a Promotion Request	153	(4)
Giving a Negative Performance Review	157	(4)
Turning Down a Subordinate's Request for Time Off	161	(4)
Reducing the Size of a Subordinate's Staff	165	(4)
Changing a Subordinate's Workspace to a Less Private One	169	(4)
Questioning a Subordinate's Expense Report	173	(4)
Offering Constructive Feedback to a Subordinate	177	(4)
Asking a Subordinate to Be More Aware of Ethical Issues	181	(4)
Tactfully Suggesting Better Hygiene to a Subordinate	185	(4)
Demanding Better Work Habits from a Subordinate	189	(4)
Asking a Subordinate to Improve Her Appearance	193	(4)
Handling a Subordinate's Personal Telephone Calls and Internet Use	197	(4)
Stopping Backstabbing among Subordinates	201	(4)
Putting an End to a Subordinate's Gossiping	205	(4)
Turning Down a Subordinate's Request to Hire Her Offspring	209	(4)
Suggesting a Subordinate Improve His Communication Skills	213	(4)
Handling a Flirtatious Subordinate	217	(4)
Dealing with a Brownnosing Subordinate	221	(4)
Asking If a Subordinate Is a Victim of Domestic Abuse	225	(4)
Apologizing to a Subordinate for Your Own Behavior	229	(4)
Telling a Subordinate to Be Respectful of Diversity Efforts	233	(4)
Terminating a Subordinate	237	(4)
Sending a Voluntary Termination Hint to a Subordinate	241	(4)
Telling a Subordinate to Have a More Positive Attitude	245	(6)
PART III: LIFESCRIPTS FOR DEALING WITH OFFICE POLITICS
Confronting a Sexual Harasser	251	(4)
Confronting a Backstabbing Peer	255	(4)
Ratting on a Colleague	259	(4)
Suggesting No Further Drinking to a Peer	263	(4)
Tactfully Suggesting Better Hygiene to a Peer	267	(4)
Asking a Peer to Pull Her Own Weight	271	(4)
Asking a Peer to Improve the Quality of His Work	275	(4)
Asking a Peer to Stop Gossiping	279	(4)
Correcting a Peer's Mistakes	283	(4)
Refusing to Lie for a Peer	287	(4)
Asking a Peer to Clean Up Her Work Area	291	(4)
Asking a Peer to Turn Down Annoying Music	295	(4)
Confronting a Chronic Interrupter	299	(4)
Confronting a Peer's Dishonest Behavior	303	(4)
Confronting a Pilfering Peer	307	(4)
Asking a Peer to Cover for You	311	(4)
Asking a Peer to Switch Vacations with You	315	(4)
Telling a Peer Her Job May Be in Danger	319	(4)
Helping a Peer Set More Realistic Goals	323	(4)
Asking the Information Technology Department to Be More Patient with Your Staff	327	(4)
Asking a Peer to Remove You from Her Mailing List	331	(4)
Asking a Peer to Treat Your Staff with More Respect	335	(4)
Cold Calling for an Informational Interview	339	(4)
Responding to a Salary Offer	343	(4)
Interviewing for a Career-Shift Job	347	(4)
Responding to Tough Interview Questions	351	(6)
PART IV: LIFESCRIPTS FOR DEALING WITH CLIENTS, CUSTOMERS, AND VENDORS
Cold Calling a Potential Client	357	(4)
Breaking Bad News to a Client	361	(4)
Refusing a Client's Request	365	(4)
Resurrecting a Former Client	369	(4)
Dealing with a Client Who Is Angry with Your Staff	373	(4)
Apologizing to a Client for Your Own Mistake	377	(4)
Pressing a Client to Pay the Bill	381	(4)
Telling a Client You've Increased Your Fees	385	(4)
Justifying Increased Fees to a Critical Client	389	(4)
Closing a Deal with a Client	393	(4)
Overcoming a Gatekeeper	397	(4)
Asking a Vendor to Reduce a Price	401	(4)
Complaining to a Vendor about Service	405	(4)
Getting a Vendor to Come in with a Very Low Bid	409	(4)
Asking a Vendor to Accelerate Work	413	(4)
Returning a Meal in a Restaurant	417	(4)
Suggesting an Overcharge Took Place	421	(4)
Requesting Better Service from a Professional	425	(4)
Terminating a Relationship with a Professional	429	(4)
Asking a Creditor for More Time	433	(4)
Renegotiating a Price with a Client	437	(4)
Explaining a Delay to a Client	441	(4)
Index	445