Blog

Memory is vital to any professional, and it’s no surprise that so much money has been spent on memory training to try and improve our recollection.  Several modern factors (some you might not be aware of) are believed to be responsible for reducing our recollection.  If you want to increase your memory performance, avoid the [...]

Is your brain right, or left brain hemisphere dominated?  The answer to this simple question is believed to have some influence over whether an individual has a logical or creative way of thinking, and why that is.  The idea of two hemispheres that function somewhat independently to each other was brought to popular attention by [...]

The mind is a fascinating organ. Regularly described as the most complex thing in the known universe, its true capabilities are still being studied and debated by scientists across the world. Almost everyone would like to be able to improve how effective his or her memory is. Consistently remembering dates, facts and names would be [...]

  When we go to school, college and university or attend training courses or business seminars, we are consciously engaging in learning. We know that because someone is being paid to teach, and we are concentrating hard, reading the handouts, following online instructions or passively listening. This process more or less serves, up to a [...]

Sensory memory and short-term memory work in cooperation in order to help the brain store information for later recall. When information is first received by means of one of the five senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell), it is retained for a very brief period of time in the sensory registers. The amount of [...]

Is Mind Mapping a serious business tool? Anthony Landale reports on a technique that is easy to use across a range of business requirements, challenges and tasks.

Being interested in a subject is a key to learning it quickly.  This is because the human brain takes in vast amounts of information but chooses to retain only select parts of it.  We tell our brains what parts to retain by paying much closer attention to those types of information.  Simply having a true [...]

Most people know the frustration that comes from being unable to recall information seen or heard in the recent past. This familiar experience is a result of the human brain’s ability to store some kinds of data effectively, making it available for recall later, and discard other kinds of data. It may seem inconvenient that [...]

We learn new things every day – at home and at work. Have you ever wondered if you are maximising the way you think and learn? Most of us think that our ability to learn, read quickly, be creative, and solve problems is fixed. We learned these skills years ago but realise that the qualifications, strengths and skills with which we entered employment [...]

You know that information is more freely available than ever before. But all this information from all these sources can confuse and overload… Clive Lewis, author of ‘The Extraordinary Reader’ and Director of Illumine, gives us some tips on how to read faster and remember more. Did you know that a staggering 80% of executives occasionally or often [...]

Impressed by those people who always remember everything? Those that can recall conversations, statistics, detailed information or events at just the ‘drop of a hat’? Isn’t it amazing when they can accurately recite a quote or who, when asked, remember precise facts and figures. You can also become a master of memory! Think of the business and studying benefits and [...]

Information overwhelm is a growing problem. People are struggling to cope with all the information that’s overloading them today, making mistakes, forgetting things and losing sight of what’s important. Information overwhelm is when the quantity of information we receive exceeds our capacity to deal effectively with it. This situation arises most obviously when people are trying [...]

A brilliant memory can transform your impact at work and further your career. Here Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine Training explains how. Most people are hugely impressed by those who have the ability to recall events, statistics or detailed information at just the right moment. People who can accurately recite a quote or who, when [...]

Parallel Process - Is Mind Mapping a serious business tool? Anthony Landale reports on a technique that is easy to use across a range of business requirements, challenges and tasks. If you are one of those people who still takes notes in meetings, or you use notes as an aide memoir for training, for course revision [...]

When it comes to stress it’s useful to consider how physical, emotional and mental strategies can help people to manage their condition. Here Anthony Landale highlights some of the latest developments in stress management. We live in an era when information is more freely available than ever before. This should be one of the great [...]

There is a lot of discussion about the need for all organisations to equip managers and staff at all levels to be able to continue to learn and develop throughout their careers and lives. Here Clive Lewis, Director of the training and consultancy company, Illumine Limited, which specialises in learning, thinking and creativity, explains why [...]

Speed reading is an area of corporate training which Tony Buzan has just handed over to Illumine Training. Here Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine, highlights why it is such a valuable skill for business executives to learn. Why do we need to speed read? Aren’t we under enough pressure at work already? If this is [...]

Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine Training, explains how to become a master of memory. Most people are hugely impressed by those who have the ability to recall events, statistics or detailed information at just the right moment. People who can accurately recite a quote or who, when asked, remember precise facts and figures. But how [...]

Is the pressure of information overload getting to you? Join the club. Here Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine Training, argues that mental agility is your best hope for survival. It’s like a tidal wave coming right at you. It’s coming via text, email, reports, messages, policies and guidelines. It’s coming at speed from every direction [...]

Don’t panic. Map out a new strategy to free up your memory in eight steps. Louise Etheridge reports If you were thinking of calling NHS Direct to make an appointment for a brain extension to cope with the avalanche of information you need to remember for your finals, put down that phone. There is another [...]