I produce a free e-newsletter containing a brief tip in the area of personal and professional development. If you would like to sign up for it click here. Here are some recent newsletters: Conflict_Spirals.pdf Dealing_with_'Negative'_People.pdf Dealing_with_Burnout.pdf Delegation.pdf Focussing_on_what_you_want_to_achieve.pdf Four_types_of_motivation.pdf Time_Management_and_Happiness.pdf Negotiating_Ground_Rules_with_a_Problematic_Boss.pdf I run learning & development sessions on a range of topics, to find out more click here . Recommended Websites, Books and Articles Conflict Resolution Getting to Yes by Fisher & Ury Getting Past No - Negotiating with Difficult People by William Ury These two books outline some great win:win negotiation strategies. Difficult Conversations by Stone, Patton and Heen This book has some excellent suggestions to help clarify what might really be going on during conflict. Mediation - Principles, Process, Practice: by Laurence Boulle A clear and wise description of how to mediate a dispute. Positive Psychology and Happiness http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx There are lots of great free positive psychology tests here. You can find out how optimistic you are and take the wonderful VIA signature strengths test There are many excellent books on happiness, my favourites are: Finding Flow by Mike Csikszentmihalyi Flow is that state where we are ''in the zone', so completely absorbed in something that we forget ourselves and forget time. The more flow we have in our lives the happier we are - so knowing how to create flow is important. The Value of Positive Emotions by Barbara Fredrickson in American Scientist Vol. 91 2003 Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman Ageing Well by George Vaillant When you are 80 do you want to look back on your life and think ''That was great! Well done me!' If so read this book - it is my favourite combination, wisdom backed up by some solid research The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness by Edward Hallowell The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathon Haidt Curious? by Todd Kashdan The Resilience Factor by Karen Reivich & Andrew Shatte is a good practical guide. The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky. Her iphone happiness app 'Live Happy' is wonderful Just Turn Up by Georgina Smith - this is a succint and practical introduction to meditation and includes a lovely CD - for more information visit: www.just-turn-up.co.uk Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) is an evidence-based approach that helps us to take positive action based on our values and effectively manage difficult thoughts and feelings. Research on ACT is finding it is effective in managing stress, avoiding burnout, improving health and improving leadership behaviours in managers. There are some useful ACT resources at: http://www.actmindfully.com.au/acceptance_&_commitment_therapy The Happiness Trap by Dr Russ Harris is an lovely self help book based on ACT principles. Other Psychology Links There is a good free personality test at: http://personalitytest.net/ipip/ipipneo1.htm It is based on the 'Big Five' personality traits - Extroversion, Openness to experience, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness and Agreeableness. These traits seem to be consistent throughout our adult lives. http://cep.lse.ac.uk/textonly/research/mentalhealth/GrahamThornicroft_Actions-Speak-Louder.pdf is a great paper on tackling discrimination against people with mental illness by Prof Graham Thorncroft http://www.cip-medien.com/html/volume_5_-_2004.html has a link to a paper by Maja Storch on the Implications of Neuroscientific Research for Psychotherapy. It is a good review of the amazing progress that has been made in understanding how the brain works and how this research can inform our attempts to make positive changes in our life. Management and Leadership Developing Management Skills by Carlopio, James; Andrewartha, Graham & Armstrong, Humphrey This is a great text book covering a wide range of management topics. What Makes an Effective Executive? by Peter Drucker in Harvard Business Review June 2004 Peter Drucker wrote such wonderful and wise articles - this is one of my favourites The Truth about Managing People by Stephen Robbins Actionable Feedback: Unlocking the power of learning and performance improvement by Mark Cannon & Robert Witherspoon in Academy of Management Executive 2005 Vol19 no2 pg 120-133 Managing Management Time by William Oncken, Jr This book was written in 1984 and does sound quaint today - however it has some thought provoking idea's about how manager's need to spend their time. Real Coaching and Feedback, How to Help People Improve Their Performance by JK Smart Bruce Mau's Incomplete Manifesto for Growth is wise and fun! http://www.ludosabato.com/mau/

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