CareerOwl Book Review
by Joanne Ing

LIfescripts: What to Say to Get What You Want in Life's Toughest Situations
2002 Edition
Stephen M. Pollan, Mark Levine
Roughly 496 pages

Have you ever been at a loss for words in a business situation? Lifescripts is a guidebook outlining the most critical conversations you might encounter in business. The advice offered in this paperback aims to put you in control to lead effective, clear conversations and negotiations.

The comments and responses comprising a dialogue are presented in a flow-chart manner. The dialogues are meant to be adaptive and flexible, to be tailored to particular real-life circumstances and personality of the speaker. The scripts in the book stress diplomacy and courtesy above all. The collaborative and cooperative attitude of the responses ensures that the listener will be respectful and receptive to the speaker.

The topics covered in Lifescripts include responding to salary offers during an interview, asking for a promotion, and maximizing a performance review; as well as sensitive conversations such as dealing with an angry client, how to tactfully criticize a subordinate, and confronting a backstabbing colleague. In addition to detailed scripts, suggestions for the timing and location of the conversation, and any preparations to be made in advance are laid out before the conversation details.

Lifescripts is invaluable to new employees entering the job market, giving new recruits greater confidence in all their business exchanges. Easy to reference and quick to read, this manual is an excellent resource for a job seeker preparing for their first interviews and for future employment.

You can find this book here, at Amazon.

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