In This Issue

News from Joan (right)

Ask For What You Want (below)

Quotes for the Month

Job Seeking Tips: Holidays Are a Great Time For Finding a Job!

Quick Links

News from Joan!

What clients are saying about Joan

“Joan is an excellent business coach. She guided me through my most challenging position and assisted me beyond all expectations when I needed to reevaluate everything I thought about my career.
Top qualities: Personable, Good Value, High Integrity”

Peggy Krohn, VP Operations, Shea Writing & Training Solutions

Tiger Woods has a coach.
So do many successful executives.
How about you?


A spam free newsletter written and published by Joan Bolmer, Executive, Business, Career and Personal Coach.

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Schedule a FREE no obligation consultation TODAY! Call 281 293-8864 or email me.

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Ask for What You Want

Frequently a client will describe a problem with a coworker, boss, client or spouse. After some discussion and more detail I will often inquire, “Did you ask?” Astounded, the person will say, no. Then I generally ask if there is a reason they have not asked and I often get a blank stare or duh as an answer. The client and I then discuss the best way to go about making the desired request.

I don’t know why people don’t ask for what they want. Maybe they are afraid of a rejection or that they will look silly. They may be afraid to admit they don’t know something, or that they just don’t know how to ask or are unclear about exactly what they want and why. I suspect that it is some of all of these. So let’s solve this problem right now!

The first rule of requests is to be clear about what you want and why. In many situations you will be more successful if you can give a rational. For example, the complaint: I have a boss who rages. Request: “When you yell at me, I get nervous and find it hard to think or respond. In the future if you would like me to do something differently, I would appreciate your using a calm voice so I will be able to think and respond effectively. ”

The complaint: The boss doesn’t do anything about the slow invoice turnaround time. Request: “I have noticed that it takes at least 2 weeks to turnaround an invoice. I have some ideas that I think would improve turnaround time and save us money. Would it be all right for me to take the time to do some research and get back to you with a proposal?”

Here is an example of a clear and straightforward request: “ Honey, I would like to go to see XYZ movie this weekend. Would you enjoy going too or would you rather I ask one of my friends?” This gives the person a clear choice and includes how you can get what you want either way.

The second rule of requests is that the other person has the right to say yes, no, or maybe. A “no” answer to a request is not a rejection of you as a person. It is just no to the request and not personal at all. You may want to ask the person, “Could you tell me more about why that would not be a good idea?” Be careful to use a neutral tone of voice. You don’t what to sound like a rebellious teenager or a whiner.

The third rule of requests is to let it go if the answer is no, especially if you are given a good reason. Consider finding another way to get the need met or achieve the desired result. There are usually several good ways to solve a problem. Going over your bosses head is rarely a good idea. Making him or her look foolish is a serious career-limiting move.

People are very poor mind readers and even when we make clear requests it is not always interpreted as we intended. Start the habit right now of asking for what you want with clear, straightforward requests.

Quotes for the Month

"All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible."
-William Faulkner

"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
- Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Wizardry & Witchcraft

“This is a sacred place where we only speak well of ourselves, we only speak well of our organization, we only speak well of our competitors, and we only speak well of our customers."
- Larry Winget

“All of us, at certain moments of our lives, need to take advice and to receive help from other people.”
-Alexis Carrel, Author, Reflections on Life

Job Seeking Tips: The Holidays Are a Great Time for Finding a Job

If you are looking for a permanent or contract position this is a great time to network and look.

There are projects that must be completed and monies spent before the end of the year. Budgets and projects for the new year have been approved and talent is being sought now to fill those needs. Lots of job seekers are taking the month off to visit family and friends so there is less competition.

Holiday parties are a great place to network. Do not turn down any invitations. Be sure you are carrying lots of business cards to give out and have your 30 second infomercial refined and ready to use. If the people you meet don’t have a business card handy have a pen and one of your cards ready for them to write down their contact information for you. Follow up with a phone call or coffee date the next week.

Holiday cards are a great way to bring your friends far and near up to date on your search and companies to which you would like introductions. Ask for what your want!
Don’t get discouraged; unemployment is low and business in many sectors is picking up. It’s time to have fun and meet new people.

If you live in Houston, TX ask to be put on the monthly job listings from
Paula J. Marion, CPC, Marion Staffing Solutions 713/534-1855; 713/208-9313 pmarion@houston.rr.com

If you want to power up your resume and sharpen your job search and interview skills, give me a call at 281-293-8864 or email me: joan@bolmer.com for a free consultation.

“Joan Bolmer pushed me to bring out my best qualities and put them on paper. My resume stood out because of her creative insight on how to display my experience. Working with Joan helped me get to know myself and be proud of my achievements, giving me the confidence I needed to land a job. Every single interviewer said I had the most unique and interesting resume of all their applicants.”
—Sofia Perches, PR Manager Latin America BMC

Quick Links

Selling Yourself in 90 Seconds or Less

Quality Self Care

Are You Working on Your Business or Is Your Business Working on You?

Favorite Resources Links

Happy Holidays!
Check out Joan's paintings and notecards.