I write a free e-newsletter on topics relating to the practical applications of research into leadership, people management, personal development and negotiation. Topics like ‘The Secrets of Success’ or ‘Dealing with Negative People’. To see back copies click here. To sign up click here. I also write a blog with tips on health, happiness, relationships and parenting and with Rob Archer a blog on using ACT in the workplace. In June 2010 we conducted a survey of Australian managers and HR Consultants to find out the issues facing them in the current climate. We found that the top people management issues in the workplaces we surveyed were: Managing change Managing performance Employee motivation and engagement, and, Ensuring staff are sufficiently skilled Here is the full report: RJC Consulting People Management Issues Survey Report.pdf In 2011 I gave a presentation to the ANZ ACT conference with Petrina Alexander: Using ACT in Team Facilitation Rachel Collis & Petrina Alexander.pdf In 2012 I gave a presentation at the Association of Contextual Behavioural Sciences World Conference in Parma with Rob Archer: Working With ACT Parma Session Handout 25th July 2011.pdf 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 Todd skilfully combines positive psychology with ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Training) in this lovely book. 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 succinct 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 that it is an effective approach 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 a lovely self help book based on ACT principles. Other good ACT books: Your Life on Purpose - How to find what matters & create the life you want by mackay, Forsyth and Eifert Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong - A guide to life liberated from anxiety by Kelly Wilson and Troy Dufrene 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 Other Great Resources http://www.ludosabato.com/mau/ Bruce Mau's Incomplete Manifesto for Growth is wise and fun! http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ Seth’s daily dose of thought provoking wisdom is wonderful and free. Highly recommended. http://www.thecareerpsychologist.com/headstuck-career-change-blog/ A great blog on career change written by my friend, Rob Archer

I write a free e-newsletter on topics relating to the practical applications of research into leadership, people management, personal development and negotiation. Topics like ‘The Secrets of Success’ or ‘Dealing with Negative People’. To see back copies click here. To sign up click here.

I also write a blog with tips on health, happiness, relationships and parenting and with Rob Archer a blog on using ACT in the workplace.

In June 2010 we conducted a survey of Australian managers and HR Consultants to find out the issues facing them in the current climate. We found that the top people management issues in the workplaces we surveyed were:

•Managing change
•Managing performance
•Employee motivation and engagement, and,
•Ensuring staff are sufficiently skilled

Here is the full report: RJC Consulting People Management Issues Survey Report.pdf

In 2011 I gave a presentation to the ANZ ACT conference with Petrina Alexander:

Using ACT in Team Facilitation Rachel Collis & Petrina Alexander.pdf

In 2012 I gave a presentation at the Association of Contextual Behavioural Sciences World Conference in Parma with Rob Archer:

Working With ACT Parma Session Handout 25th July 2011.pdf

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

Todd skilfully combines positive psychology with ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Training) in this lovely book.

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 succinct 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 that it is an effective approach 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 a lovely self help book based on ACT principles.

Other good ACT books:

Your Life on Purpose - How to find what matters & create the life you want by mackay, Forsyth and Eifert

Things Might Go Terribly, Horribly Wrong - A guide to life liberated from anxiety by Kelly Wilson and Troy Dufrene