Lifescripts, 3rd Edition

Lifescripts, 3rd Edition

by Stephen M. Pollan, Mark Levine
Released April 2019
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781119571971

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Book description

Expertly navigate any workplace conversation and come out on top

When confronted with difficult situations in the workplace, many people are at a loss for words. That’s why New York Times bestselling authors Stephen M. Pollan and Mark Levine created Lifescripts: What to Say to Get What You Want in Life's Toughest Situations. Using two-color flowcharts, Lifescripts maps out 171 difficult conversations, guiding you through discussion openers and effective responses reach the desired result. This completely revised and updated edition includes nearly 50 new business-focused scripts covering everything from apologizing for a misdirected email to requesting better meeting manners.

Inside, you’ll find scripts to fit any situation you’re confronting at work. Use the signature Lifescripts visual flowcharts to work your way through exactly how the conversation should go. Be it boosting employee morale or getting the raise you deserve, when the time comes, you’ll be prepared not only with the right words and phrases, but with the confidence you need to get what you want.

  • Work your way through conversation scripts for terminations, performance reviews, negotiating job offers, asking for raises, and much more
  • Learn a unique set of icebreakers, pitches, questions, answers, and defenses for each difficult conversation
  • Easily develop a winning conversational strategy using the signature visual flowcharts unique to Lifescripts
  • Get strategic tips on attitude, timing, preparation, and behavior to help make any conversation a success

This revised Third Edition of Lifescripts is here to help employees and managers communicate even more clearly and effectively. Whatever the situation, Lifescripts provides a road map to navigate the most perplexing, problematic dialogues for success.

Table of contents

  1. COVER
  2. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  3. INTRODUCTION
    1. A DIALOGUE REQUIRES A BACK AND FORTH VERBAL EXCHANGE
    2. FACE‐TO‐FACE IS ALWAYS BEST
    3. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
    4. STEER THE CONVERSATION
    5. SAY WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY
    6. AVOID, ABSORB, AND DEFLECT ANGER
    7. TAILOR YOUR APPROACH BASED ON DEMOGRAPHICS
    8. MAKE SURE YOUR COMMUNICATION IS MULTICULTURAL AND GENDER NEUTRAL
    9. A FINAL THOUGHT
  4. I: Lifescripts
    1. 1 Meeting Your New Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    2. 2 Asking Your Supervisor for a Raise Outside of the Annual Review Process
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    3. 3 Having Your Pay Cut
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    4. 4 Asking Your Supervisor for a Salary Advance
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    5. 5 Asking Your Supervisor for a Promotion
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    6. 6 Asking Your Supervisor for Help with Your Workload
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    7. 7 Asking Your Supervisor to Be Involved in Projects That Provide Greater Exposure
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    8. 8 Asking Your Supervisor for Time to Shadow in Other Departments
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    9. 9 Asking Your Supervisor for More Responsibilities
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    10. 10 Your Responsibilities Are Increased, but Not Your Pay
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    11. 11 Turning Down an Assignment
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    12. 12 Asking Your Supervisor for Relief from a Project
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    13. 13 Asking Your Supervisor for a Deadline Extension
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    14. 14 Asking Your Supervisor for a Transfer
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    15. 15 Asking Your Supervisor for More Staff
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    16. 16 Your Staff Is Cut
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    17. 17 Asking Your Supervisor for a Budget Increase
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    18. 18 Your Budget Is Cut
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    19. 19 Going over Your Supervisor's Head
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    20. 20 Asking Your Supervisor If You Can Work from Home
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    21. 21 Asking Your Supervisor for a Schedule Adjustment to Accommodate School
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    22. 22 Asking Your Supervisor for Clearer Directions
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    23. 23 Asking Your Supervisor to Stop Micromanaging
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    24. 24 Breaking Bad News to Your Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    25. 25 Explaining Rapid Staff Turnover to Your Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    26. 26 Warning Your Supervisor of a Potential Client or Customer Problem
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    27. 27 Warning Your Supervisor of a Potential Vendor or Supplier Problem
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    28. 28 Apologizing for a Misdirected Email to Your Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    29. 29 Defending an Expense Report to Your Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    30. 30 Defending Your Own Performance from Criticism
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    31. 31 Putting an End to Verbal Abuse from Your Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    32. 32 Putting an End to Unjust Criticism from Your Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    33. 33 You're a Company Icon Being Terminated
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    34. 34 You're Terminated by a Friend
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    35. 35 You're Terminated When Close to Retirement
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    36. 36 You're Terminated When You Have a Personal Burden
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    37. 37 You're Terminated, but Are Asked to Remain Available
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    38. 38 You're Asked to Become a Part‐Time Employee
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    39. 39 Asking Your Supervisor for a Job Recommendation
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    40. 40 Negotiating Severance with Your Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. KEY POINTS
    41. 41 Giving Notice to Your Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
  5. II: Lifescripts
    1. 42 Meeting Your New Staff
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    2. 43 Responding to a Direct Report's Raise Request
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    3. 44 Responding to a Direct Report's Promotion Request
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    4. 45 Responding to a Direct Report's Request for Time Off
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    5. 46 Responding to a Direct Report's Request to Hire Their Child
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    6. 47 Denying a Direct Report's Vacation Request
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    7. 48 Responding to a Direct Report's Request for a Schedule Adjustment
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    8. 49 Insisting on a More Positive Attitude from a Direct Report
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    9. 50 Insisting a Direct Report Show More Awareness of Ethical Issues
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    10. 51 Insisting a Direct Report Show More Respect for Diversity Efforts
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    11. 52 Insisting a Direct Report Improve Their Appearance
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    12. 53 Insisting on Better Hygiene from a Direct Report
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    13. 54 Putting an End to a Direct Report's Personal Telephone and Internet Use
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    14. 55 Dealing with a Direct Report's Repeated Lateness
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    15. 56 Putting an End to a Direct Report's Procrastination
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    16. 57 Correcting Repeated Mistakes by a Direct Report
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    17. 58 Insisting a Direct Report Improve Their Voice Manners
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    18. 59 Putting an End to a Direct Report's Personal Use of Equipment
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    19. 60 Requesting Better Meeting Manners from a Direct Report
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    20. 61 Dealing with Criticism a Direct Report Posts on Social Networking Platforms
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    21. 62 Questioning a Direct Report's Expenses
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    22. 63 Delivering a Critical Performance Review to a Direct Report
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    23. 64 Reducing the Size of a Direct Report's Staff
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    24. 65 Reducing the Size of a Direct Report's Workspace
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    25. 66 Apologizing to a Direct Report for Your Own Behavior
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    26. 67 Apologizing to a Direct Report for Unintended Gender Insensitivity
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    27. 68 Apologizing to a Direct Report for Unintended Cultural Insensitivity
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    28. 69 Extending a Direct Report's Responsibilities Without Increasing Their Pay
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    29. 70 Increasing an Entire Staff's Hours but Not Their Pay
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    30. 71 Turning a Full‐TimeDirect Report into a Part‐Timer
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    31. 72 Cutting an Entire Staff's Pay
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    32. 73 Cutting an Individual Direct Report's Pay
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    33. 74 Sending a Voluntary Termination Hint to a Direct Report
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    34. 75 Terminating aFriend
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
  6. III: Lifescripts
    1. 76 Tattling on a Peer to Your Supervisor
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    2. 77 Telling Your Supervisor That Someone Else Took Credit for Your Idea
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    3. 78 Asking Your Supervisor for Help with a Problem Peer
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    4. 79 Asking Your Supervisor to Help When Another Department Oversteps Their Bounds
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    5. 80 Suggesting Less Drinking to a Coworker
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    6. 81 Putting an End to Backstabbing by Direct Reports
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    7. 82 Putting an End to Harassment by a Coworker
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    8. 83 Putting an End to a Direct Report's Gossiping
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    9. 84 Putting an End to a Direct Report's Brownnosing
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    10. 85 Putting an End to a Direct Report's Flirting
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    11. 86 Suggesting BetterHygiene to aCoworker
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    12. 87 Putting an End to aCoworker's ChronicInterruptions
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    13. 88 Putting an Endto a Coworker's Dishonest Behavior
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    14. 89 Asking a Coworker to Treat Your Staff with More Respect
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    15. 90 Asking a Coworker to Stop Backstabbing
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    16. 91 Refusing to Lie for a Coworker
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    17. 92 Putting an End to a Coworker's Romantic Overtures
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    18. 93 Asking a Coworker to Stop Gossiping
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    19. 94 Asking a Coworker to Come in Earlier and/or Stay Later
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    20. 95 Asking a Coworker to Improve the Quality of Their Work
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    21. 96 Correcting a Coworker's Mistakes
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    22. 97 Putting an End to a Coworker's Pilfering
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    23. 98 Asking a Coworker to Accelerate Their Work
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    24. 99 Asking a Coworker to Redo Their Work
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    25. 100 Requesting Better Meeting Manners from a Coworker
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    26. 101 Deflecting a Coworker's Probes for Personal Information
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    27. 102 Asking a Coworker to Stay Within the Bounds of Their Role
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    28. 103 Asking a Coworker to Cover for You
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    29. 104 Asking a Coworker to Switch Vacations with You
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    30. 105 Apologizing to a Coworker for a Misdirected Email
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    31. 106 Apologizing to a Coworker for Unintended Gender Insensitivity
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    32. 107 Apologizing to a Coworker for Unintended Cultural Insensitivity
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    33. 108 Helping a Coworker Set More Realistic Goals
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
    34. 109 Telling a Coworker Their Job May Be in Danger
      1. STRATEGY
      2. TACTICS
      3. ADAPTATIONS
      4. KEY POINTS
  7. INDEX
  8. END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

Product information

  • Title: Lifescripts, 3rd Edition
  • Author(s): Stephen M. Pollan, Mark Levine
  • Release date: April 2019
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781119571971