This cast describes how to ask for advice, and increase your chances of not only being successful in obtaining advice from this person once, but many times.

One of the joys of being in this position we are in, is that we are able to help tens of thousands of managers and individual contributors each month through our podcasts. But we also get hundreds of emails each month asking for more specific advice, and though we appreciate all our members and their trust in us, there is a SHOCKING lack of understanding of the etiquette of asking for advice, leaving us feeling a little – dare we say – used?

So, this cast is purely selfish, in that it lets our members know what the etiquette is. The reason for etiquette, in a broader sense, is that it smoothes human communication, reducing the friction between us. If you use these recommendations in other situations where you need advice, the friction is reduced and you’re much more likely to get what you want and need.

1. Remember, No-one Owes You Anything
2. Decide You’re Going To Be Open Minded
3. BLUF And THEN Additional Detail
4. Say Thank You
5. Follow Up

  [Play in Popup]

This cast describes Career Tools' recommendations for how to attend a meeting when your boss asks you to go in his/her place.

Your boss asks you to go to a meeting. What do you do? You sort of have three options. You can ask a million questions. Okay, you have two options. You can do what most directs do and go and then wait for the boss to ask for a debrief. Or, you can do a couple of simple things which take about five minutes, and impress the stuffing out of your boss. Here's how to do THAT.

1. Before You Go, Ask Three Questions
   1. Am I Presenting and If So, How?
   2. Key Agenda Items
   3. Topics or Discussions To Watch Out For
2. During the Meeting, Stay Quiet and Take GOOD Notes
3. After the Meeting, Report Efficiently
   1. Capture And Send Your Notes From Where The Meeting Was
   2. Do NOT Send Minutes
   3. Think About Your Boss's Receiving Style
   4. Include Attendees and Non-Attendees
   5. Highlight Deliverables

  [Play in Popup]

This cast concludes our conversation on how to change jobs between states, countries or industries.

1. Making This Kind of Change Is Harder
2. Smaller Steps are Better
3. A Foothold in The New Place Helps
4. You Will Need More Help
5. Demonstrate Real Reasons and a Longer Term Goal
6. You Need To Interview 10x Better Than Anyone Else

  [Play in Popup]

This cast explains how to change jobs between states, countries or industries.

One of the most difficult things to do in one's career is to change locations across the country, between countries or between industries. It's also something many people want to do. Whether it's moving to be with a spouse, the adventure of travel or moving out of an industry that has got stale or is in a downward spiral, there are often good reasons for wanting to do something so hard.

Unfortunately, this cast does not provide the silver bullet which will make these changes possible for everyone. There is none. It WILL give you some actions to take to make the change more possible for you.

1. Making This Kind of Change Is Harder
2. Smaller Steps are Better
3. A Foothold in The New Place Helps
4. You Will Need More Help
5. Demonstrate Real Reasons and a Longer Term Goal
6. You Need To Interview 10x Better Than Anyone Else

  [Play in Popup]

This cast concludes our Career Tools' recommendations for textual communications on portable devices.

1. Put Your Device Away When You Are Addressed
2. Don't Touch Your Device When Conversing
3. Rare – RARE – Urgency Trumps This
4. Ask To Be Excused
5. And Finally, Interrupt Politely

  [Play in Popup]

This cast describes Career Tools' recommendations for textual communications on portable devices.

If you've ever been talking to someone who was distracted and then proceeded to answer a text message, send an email, post on Facebook, "Tweet", or in any other way use their cell phone, smart phone, pager, or any other mobile device to communicate, this cast is for you. Feel free to start playing this cast for the offender, on your own mobile device, and then hit them over the head with it.

Here is Career Tools simple guidance for using mobile phones and messaging devices.

1. Put Your Device Away When You Are Addressed
2. Don't Touch Your Device When Conversing
3. Rare – RARE – Urgency Trumps This
4. Ask To Be Excused
5. And Finally, Interrupt Politely

  [Play in Popup]

This cast concludes our conversation on recommendations for what to do when you make a mistake.

1. Admit It Quickly and Emphatically…and Actively
2. What Happened?
3. What Are The Consequences?
4. Who Else Needs to Know?
5. How Are You Going To Fix It?
6. How Are You Going To Prevent Reoccurrence?

  [Play in Popup]

This cast describes Career Tools' recommendations for what to do when you make a mistake.

This is one of those Career Tools' casts to which those of us who have had longer careers will smile ruefully, and say "I wish someone had told me that." And those at the beginning of their careers will think ... but I know this ... until what they think they know blows up in their faces. Dealing with mistakes, like many career management activities is not intuitive, and in this case, we hope to help some of you skip the "it all blowing up in your face" step.

This cast applies whatever the size of the mistake, whatever the type of mistake, whatever part of your career you're in. Dealing well with mistakes can be career enhancing, and what better than building a positive from a negative? There are six simple steps.

1. Admit It Quickly and Emphatically…and Actively
2. What Happened?
3. What Are The Consequences?
4. Who Else Needs to Know?
5. How Are You Going To Fix It?
6. How Are You Going To Prevent Reoccurrence?

  [Play in Popup]

This cast describes Career Tools' recommendations about going to work when you're sick.

What do you do when you're sick? Do you "do the right thing"? Do you do what's best for the company? Do you put your teammates first? We'd bet that everyone answered YES to every one of the questions above. And yet, many of us DISAGREE about what to do about going to work when we're sick. Both sides of this lately more contested argument believe they're doing the right thing…but for different reasons. Here's what to do, and why.

1. Yes, Go To Work Sick
2. The Detractors Are Making The Wrong Arguments
3. Wash Your Hands and Be Respectful
4. Sure, Take Advantage of Telecommuting – But Work
5. There Are Some Exceptions

  [Play in Popup]

This cast concludes Career Tool's recommendations for answering questions about your career history.

1. TELL THE TRUTH! Truth is Not Your Enemy – An “Answer” Is
2. Decide on an Answer and Practice
3. Above All Be Honest
4. Short, No Blame
5. Matter of Fact Delivery
6. Add In Follow Up Information
7. Stop Worrying About It

  [Play in Popup]