Lifescripts, 3rd Edition

80Suggesting Less Drinking to a Coworker

STRATEGY

It's always awkward to discuss drinking habits with a colleague, but never more so than at a sales conference or in some other out‐of‐the‐office business/personal situation. Most large companies have established routines for identifying, warning, and assisting employees who show signs of chronic alcohol or drug abuse, but when a fellow sales rep blows a deal by getting drunk at a client dinner, there's no employee assistance program around to intervene. There's probably little you can do at the time, short of making a scene—and he has probably already taken care of that; so, your goal is to make sure it doesn't happen again. That means changing his behavior—at least in his business meetings with you.

TACTICS

• Attitude: Be direct, clear, and determined. You are doing this for their good, your good, and the company's good, so there's no reason for you to question your actions.
• Preparation: Expect efforts either to deny there's a problem or to shift the focus of the discussion from the issue of drinking. Consider “compromise solutions” short of abstinence.
• Timing: Do this as soon as possible after an incident where the problem was obvious. Breakfast the morning after a botched client dinner is fine—as long as they aren't too hung over.
• Behavior: Be compassionate but keep the focus on business. Your goal is to keep from being embarrassed in the future, and make sure their problem doesn't hurt your career.

ADAPTATIONS

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