As with many self-help books, much of what you read here is based on basic common sense and can at times be irritatingly obvious. However, what Covey manages to do so successfully is to break down the barriers which prevent all of us from taking a long hard look at ourselves, and then gradually introduces new rules which allow us to move first from dependence to independence and then towards the ultimate goal of interdependence. But of course, the only real way to test the value of The Habits--be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think "win/win", seek first to understand and then to be understood, synergise, sharpen the saw-- is to work on them. This book is as good as any place to start on the road to self-awareness and self-improvement in the workplace and in the home without becoming too irritatingly smug and self-satisfied

Reviewer: liz morrison from W Sussex United Kingdom A first class guide to coaching in business. This is an updated version and is very highly recommended. Sir John worked with Timothy Gallwey to develop the Inner Game approach which is, after all, the bedrock of current coaching training and thinking. This book is therefore authoritiative yet highly readable and has been the basis for many other writers books on coaching. So read it straight from the horse's mouth!

The unrelenting pace and pressure of business in most modern organizations brings constant pressure to bear on employees, challenging the physical and emotional resources of everyone. Consultants have become familiar with a "survival mentality" among the people they are called upon who are struggling to improve production, solve intractable conflict, and chart realistic growth. This text was written to help organizational consultants understand the chaotic pressures and psychodynamic problems that can influence executive behaviour and performance. In readable illustrated chapters, Kilburg shows how methods and techniques developed largely in clinical settings can be applied in efforts to coach exceutives and management teams. This should be of interest to consultants who wish to help executives develop human wisdom and to gain insight into the chaotic "shadow" side of individuals and organizational life

Is your workload overwhelming? Does it just keep mounting up while your stress levels reach fever pitch? In Getting Things Done John Allen teaches you how to keep a clear head, relax and organise your thoughts while implementing the methods that he has introduced at organisations like Microsoft, Lockheed and the US Department of Justice: Learn the 'do it, delegate, it, defer it, drop it' principle to empty your in-tray; Handle e-mail, paperwork and unexpected demands in a system of self-management; Plan and progress projects; Reasses goals and stay focused in changing environments; Apply the two minute rule when deciding what to do now and what to defer; Overcome feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed; With clear and specific methods and advice, David Allen's tried and trusted formula for business efficiency could transform the way you operate and your experience of work.

This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to "the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership and to arouse enthusiasm among people." He teaches these skills through underlying principles of dealing with people so that they feel important and appreciated

People skills are the key to success, yet they all depend on one fundamental insight: nobody knows for sure what you are thinking or feeling - they can respond only to your behaviour. Getting the best from others, therefore, means monitoring and modifying how you behave.

Reviewer: abiria (awan@orange.net) from Windsor, England I read this book a few weeks ago by borrowing it from the library and was very impressed. The authour picks out straight away that elusive x-factor of what makes you play well and shows you how to recreate it in all it's glory. The suggestions in this book won't have an instant and temporary effect, rather thier effect on your powers of concentration could amaze you. A brief note, it will require some work to put the principles on the pages of this book into your game on the court but that's were all the fun lies

Reviewer: helencaton from Forton, Lancashire United Kingdom I’ve worked in organisational development and marketing for the last twenty years, endeavouring to ‘walk my talk’ in ways which also add genuine value to my clients. It’s clear that organisational potential is often stifled by individual behaviours; at the root of which are personal experiences, getting in the way of enjoyment of every aspect of our lives. So, personal development is the key to successful organisational development. And yes, you can enjoy your job! You can work with clients whom you respect and truly value. The Inner Game of Work articulates, for me, what I try to put into practice with my clients. Learning about ‘self 1’ and ‘self 2’ means that I can make real choices in my life – where do I want to put my attention? Do I really intend to invest my time and energy in anger or fear? If I want to succeed, I know what the answer is. The great thing about this book is that Tim Gallwey doesn’t underestimate the power of what he describes as ‘interference'. Other people might call it the 'ego' or 'gremlin'. His solution? Just notice. Your small adjustments (just as he describes in his sports coaching books) do the rest.

Think and Grow Rich has become the Bible for world's wealthiest and most successful men and women. Since it was published in 1937, many have cited Hill's philosophies as the cornerstone of their financial and personal success. After studying some of the most affluent men and women of his day, Hill created his famous formula for moneymaking. "You can learn to acquire vast amounts of wealth by learning to think like the men and women who have already achieved wealth and success". This roadmap will teach the upwardly mobile how to reach their goals, fulfil their highest potential and live happily by using the power of the mind. Included are Hill's insights into: Auto-suggestion Organised planning Persistence The Mystery of Sex Transmutation How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear and more

Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice, non-analytical and non-judgmental; they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Hem and Haw are "little people", mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods--our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships