John Came to My Office

John came to my office today complaining about how he could not pay his rent on time due to cash-Flow issues. He is afraid his landlord will evict him.

In terms of how I should handle this issue, I will map out two approaches as suggestions in such a way to make them seem like a friend rather than a counselor. If he refuses, I will just provide a place for him to touch base for his problems. . What I think I would like to do is to let John decide what he need to do while indirectly guiding him through the issue or to give him options. Then can decide which options are best for him.

If he agrees, I will suggest first of all for him to concentrate and to work the problem. I would suggest that he sits down with a pad of paper in my office with his cell phone off and we can brainstorm together. Working the problem is always the best way to start by brainstorming strategies. Then I can let John decide what he need to do, and guide him through or gives him options, and he can decide which options is best for him. I can also find out what the nature of his financial problems are so I can better understand how specifically to help him pay his rent or to deal with deeper problems that may be at the bottom of it all.

Secondly, I would like to guide him in ways for him to save money by getting him professional financial counseling. This could involve putting him in touch with a contact I have at a free community financial counseling agency. After all, it is always easier to save money than it is to make more money.

Then, I will compliment him on how he presented himself in terms of appearance when he came into my office. He looked very well groomed and with a good demeanor even though he was so deeply troubled with his personal problems. I think he looks so good that he should think about interviewing for a raise or for a better job (while keeping his present position of course). In the brainstorming, I might guide him in the direction of temporary services and employment agencies so he can network more effectively. After all, most jobs are filled by way of informal networking and not in classified ads and job boards. Much of it is word of mouth and counselors are frequently privy to this information due to their professional contacts. However, in networking, will need to show him how to build a network by contacting all of his friends, family and acquaintances in order to find work. Many times, word of mouth is the best way to find work and jobs are directly filled because someone knows someone else in a critical position of management who is looking for a good talented person to fill a particular person urgently.