Workscripts: Perfect Phrases for High-Stakes Conversations

Book description

What to say in today's toughest workplace situations

Whatever trust previously existed between employer and employee has been torn into millions of pink slips, thanks to the latest recession. As a result, the rules for how managers and employees can successfully communicate have been irrevocably changed.

Whether you're a manager or employee, Workscripts explains what to say in life's toughest situations at work, including:

  • Negotiating severance

  • Performance reviews

  • Responding to a pay cut

  • Asking for a raise or promotion

  • Terminating a friend

  • Job interviews

  • Dealing with difficult bosses

  • And many more

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Preface
  3. 1. THE NEW WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT
  4. 2. WORKPLACE BOMBSHELLS
    1. 2.1. Meeting the New Boss
    2. 2.2. Meeting Your New Staff
    3. 2.3. Explaining a Restructuring
    4. 2.4. Announcing a Purchase or Merger
    5. 2.5. Announcing a Relocation
  5. 3. DEATH SENTENCES
    1. 3.1. The Termination of a Company Icon
    2. 3.2. Friends Firing Friends
    3. 3.3. Terminating SomeoJne Close to Retirement
      1. 3.3.1. Terminating Someone with a Personal Burden
    4. 3.4. Terminating Someone . . . But Asking Them to Remain Available
    5. 3.5. Making an End Run
  6. 4. EMPLOYER COST-CUTTING
    1. 4.1. Furloughs without Pay
    2. 4.2. Full-Time Jobs Becoming Part-Time Jobs
    3. 4.3. Pay Cuts
    4. 4.4. Increasing Hours but Not Pay
    5. 4.5. Expanding Responsibility without Increasing Pay
    6. 4.6. Staff Reductions
    7. 4.7. Budget Reductions
  7. 5. ON BENDED KNEE
    1. 5.1. Raise Requests
    2. 5.2. Promotion Requests
    3. 5.3. Budget Increase Requests
    4. 5.4. Requests for Time Off
  8. 6. MANAGING UP
    1. 6.1. Turning Down an Assignment
    2. 6.2. Asking for Relief from a Project
    3. 6.3. Asking for a Deadline Extension
    4. 6.4. Breaking Bad News
    5. 6.5. Warning of Potential Client or Customer Problems
    6. 6.6. Warning of Potential vendor or supplier problems
  9. 7. GETTING PERSONAL
    1. 7.1. Appearance Improvements
    2. 7.2. End Backstabbing
    3. 7.3. Halting Sexual Harassment
    4. 7.4. Covering Up and Ratting Out
    5. 7.5. Blocking Brownnosing
    6. 7.6. Finishing Flirtations
    7. 7.7. Silencing Gossiping
    8. 7.8. Drying Out Drinking
    9. 7.9. Ending Internet Privilege Abuse
    10. 7.10. Deflating Expenses
  10. 8. LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE
    1. 8.1. Performance Reviews
    2. 8.2. Renting a Contact List
    3. 8.3. Selling Your Career Shift to an Interviewer
    4. 8.4. Negotiating Job Offers
    5. 8.5. Giving Notice
  11. Epilogue

Product information

  • Title: Workscripts: Perfect Phrases for High-Stakes Conversations
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: December 2010
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470633243