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Written to help you develop 'better brains for better business', the "Illuminating Newsletter" is the management, leadership and personal skills development newsletter. It keeps you up-to-date with hints, tips, useful articles and special offers. Our main goal is to give you valuable pointers to help you improve the way you work.

Please select issues from the left hand menu or from the detail index below. This monthly (and occasional bi-monthly special editions) newsletter benefits from a worldwide readership. Sign up here...

In this section you'll find:

• The latest newsletter
• 2012 issues
  
• 2011 issues
• 2010 issues
• 2009 issues

 

2012 past issues:
	March 2012	Facilitation & Coaching	In this newsletter we deal with how we facilitate working sessions and coach or mentor others to help them to improve their performance. Read the issue here...
	February 2012	Write, Speak & Influence	No matter what our role, to be successful we must be able to communicate effectively. In this issue of the newsletter we'll take a look at how we communicate with different people, in different situations, inside and outside of our organisations. Read the issue here...
	January 2012	Learn, Absorb & Understand	This issue of the newsletter is packed with hints and tips to help you learn more effectively, take better notes, think and plan effectively and be well informed. Read the issue here...

2011 past issues:
End of December 2011	End of Year Review	Our round up of the most popular articles of 2011. Read the issue here...
December 2011	Inspirational Motivation	Engagement and motivation is quite a subject. We're all still hearing bad economic news in the media and we are all working to full capacity to try and keep ourselves and our organisations at the leading edge. In this newsletter we'll look at the 'people' part of the business and how to keep them and you inspired, engaged and motivated. Read the issue here...
November 2011	Stress Busting	Research from Insurance Company AXA suggests that stress levels have doubled over the last four years. So, to coincide with National Stress Awareness Day (Tuesday 2nd November) this issue of our Illuminating Newsletter is all about stress and stress busting. Read the issue here...
October 2011	Business Writing	Continuing our communication theme, this month we'll be focusing on written communication for business. As well as the usual FREE guides, hints, tips and brain teasers we'll be looking at how you can make you business writing clear and concise; how the complexity of writing affects comprehension; and business grammar. Read the issue here...
September 2011	Thinking Before You Speak	On the spot? Under pressure? Difficulty in articulating your thoughts? Need to be able to think (and speak) on your feet? In this issue we'll look at how you can master the skills required to think and speak on your feet - confidently, persuasively and with impact! Read the issue here...
August 2011	Creative Thinking for Business	Creative thinking is improtant to business as it provides the solutions required to overcome challenges and problems, leading to growth in the business. This newsletter takes a look at how you can make your organisation more creative by releasing the creativity in yourself and your employees... Read the issue here...
July 2011	Improve your Thinking and Learning	Thinking and learning is something that we do every day - it could be 'on the job' or through reading an article or research. In this newsletter we'll look at some simple tools and techniques you can use to fine tune and maximise your thinking and learning skills... Read the issue here...
June 2011	Time Stretchers	Working longer hours may keep the boss smiling, but it takes a toll on your output, social life and in some cases your health. In this set of articles we look at some of the reasons you might be working longer hours and some easy tools and techniques you can learn to help you stretch time. Read the issue here...
May 2011	Learning@Work	To coincide with National Learning at Work Day 2011 this issue focuses on how we learn and takes a closer look at some of the tools and techniques that can help to make this more effective... Find out more and read this issue...
April 2011	Just Take One Business Challenge	This issue looks at ways to solve business challenges. Whether that's using creative thinking, problem solving or idea generation techniques. Find out more and read this issue...
March 2011	Developing Potential	Focusing on how to develop potential - yours and your employees. Find out more and read this issue...
February 2011	Keep Your Brain FIT!!	Featuring simple ways that you can 'Keep Your Brain FIT!'. Find out more and read this issue...
January 2011	Avoid Stress and Overload	This issue is packed with hints and tips to help you 'Avoid Stress and Overload'. Find out more and read this issue...
2009 issues:
	End of Year Review	This newsletter was produced as a review of the best articles of the year. Find out more and read this issue...
December 2009	Creativity and Innovation - Nobody Does It Better	With this newsletter we thought it would be a good idea to think about how to generate new and innovative ideas. Either your own or using the collective knowledge of the people around you. We'll discuss a couple of the creative thinking techniques available to you in this newsletter to help you generate new ideas, empower people and nurture creativity in your teams. Articles include: Bolster Your Creativity, Today; and 2 - 10 - 2 - How to turn 2 ideas into 10 ideas in 2 minutes. Find out more and read this issue...
November 2009	It's Only Written Words	The second of our 'Communication Series', concentrating on written communication. Articles include: Don't Blame the Reader - It's Up to the Writer to Ensure the Message is Clear; and Brush Up On Your Grammar. Find out more and read this issue...
October 2009	Thinking (and Speaking) On Your Feet	The first of our 'Communication Series' concentrating on verbal communication. Articles include: Verbal Communication in Business - More Improtant Than You Think?; 10 Ways to improve Your Verbal Communication Skills; Fear and Excitement; and Helping Listeners Receive Your Message. Find out more and read this issue...
September 2009	Using Both Sides of the Brain	This issue focuses on the left and right sides of the brain. Articles include: Building Better Brains; Are Your Brain Fit?; and Left Brain... Right Brain... Find out more and read this issue...
August 2009	Developing People	This newsletter discusses some of the people development techniques available to you. Articles include: Cultivate Your People for a Healthy Crop; and Developing the Leaders of the Future. Find out more and read this issue...
July 2009	Workplace Wellness	At work we need to concentrate, be creatve and communicate - yet there are so many factors that can have ian adverse effect on performance. This is is all about workplace wellness. Articles include: Who Needs Well-being, Work-life Balance and a Healthier Lifestyle; The Vitality Factor; and Retaining and Motivating Your People. Find out more and read this issue...
June 2009	Think Differently	This issue is all about thinking differently. Articles include: Prepare for the Upturn with Big Breakthrough Ideas; Come Together, Right Now; Top Talent. Full Throttle; and Retaining and Motivating Your People. Find out more and read this issue...
May 2009	Engage and Motivate	This issue is all about engagement and motivation. We discuss how you can motivate and engage yourself and others to deliver stand out performance. Articles include: Leaders Need Passionate Teams, Especially in Tough Times; Stand Out Thinking for Stand Out Performance; Help People Perform with Passion; Ten op Tips to Help Your People Find Their Inner 'Passion'; and Motivating People. Find out more and read this issue...
April 2009	Do More With Less	This issue gives the discusses the tools and techniques that will help you to learn, maximise that learning and continue to develop throughout your career and life. Articles include: Three Techniques that Make a Big Difference; Save a Day a Week; and Motivating Your People. Find out more and read this issue...
February/ March 2009	Building Better External and Internal Relationships	It doesn't matter whether we are selling to our bosses, to our colleagues or to our clients, we have to build closer realtionships in order to offer better value. Articles include: Relationships are Important at Work; Selling Products and Services: The Importance of understanding Your Customer/Client Relationships as the Economy Tightens; Selling Products and Services: From "Death of a Salesman" to "Smarter Selling" - Developing Partner Relationships; Selling Products and Services: From Price to Value - How to Build Trust with Buyers; and Selling Ideas: Business Relationships at Work... That Work!. Find out more and read this issue...

2010 past issues:
November/December 2010	Improve the Way you Learn	This issue is packed with hints and tips to help you 'Improve The Way You Learn'. Find out more and read this issue...
October 2010	Read Faster... For Business... For Study	This issue is all about 'Meetings' - what they are, how to improve them and how to get buy-in from the attendees. Find out more and read this issue...
September 2010	Read Faster... For Business... For Study...	This issue is all about how you can read faster, remember and recall more. Articles include: The Information Age... A Blessing or A Curse; Try This Out - Speed Read a Newspaper in 10 Minutes; Professional Study - More Important than Rock and Roll; and How to Save a Day... Read. Find out more and read this issue...
August 2010	Generate Some New Ideas	This issue is all about generating ideas. Articles include: Unleash Your Own Creativity; Innovation - The Ultimate Leadership Challenge; Creativity and Team Working; and 2-10-2 How to turn 2 ideas into 10 ideas in 2 minutes. We'll also take a look at the Reversal technique and there is a FREE guide to "Generating and Communicating Ideas" to download. Find out more and read this issue...
July 2010	Respond Faster and More Effectively in Difficult Situations	This issue is all verbal communciation and how we are all needing to respond faster and more effectively - especially in difficult situations. Articles include: Saying the Right Thing... At the Right Time..., Ever Been Caught on the Spot When Someone Says: "A Quick Question for You"...", Don't Blow It - Reach Out and Communicate Powerfully. It also includes a free guide to verbal communication to download. Find out more and read this issue...
June 2010	Creativity for Logical Thinkers	This issue is all about creative thinking. Articles include: Are You Ever Guilty of Making the Single Most Common Creative Thinking Mistake; and Running Creativity Sessions. It also includes Top Tips to Free Your Creativity. Find out more and read this issue...
May 2010	Mind Mapping Mastery	This issue coincided with Learning at Work Day 2010. It's all about Mind Mapping and how this versitile technique can help in business. Articles include: An Indroduction to Mind Mapping; Note-taking with Mind Maps; Mind Maps as a Business Tool; and Mind Mapping for Anyone Who Manages Projects. Find out more and read this issue...
April 2010	Facilitating for Success	This issue is for anyone who needs to faciltiate, train, lead discussions or motivate others to get the most from groups and teams. Articles include: Wouldn't it Be Great if Working in Groups Was Easier?; Facilitate to Get Group Agreement FAST!; and 7 Priciples of Effectvie Faciltiation. Find out more and read this issue...
March 2010	Rewire Your Brain	We've packed this issue full of hints and tips to help you "Rewire Your Brain"; so you can form new and lasting habits, do more and remember more. It features guest writer Vanda North - Co Author (with Richard Israel) of Mind Chi: Re-wire Your Brain in 8 Minutes a Day, Strategies for Success in Business and Life. She'll introduce you to Mind Chi - the 8 minute a day programme that can help give you the reins of self control.Articles featured in this issue include:Re-wire Your Brain to Combat Information Overwhelm; Memory Mastery - A Brilliant Memory Can Transform Your Impact at Work; Right Those Wrongs: Make a New and Lasting Habit - Mind Chi in Action; and Fun Stuff - Speed Read a Newspaper in 10 Minutes. Find out more and read this issue...
February 2010	The Engagement Agenda	This is the second part of our 'Engagement Series'. It concentrates on Employee engagement. Articles include: What is Engagement? The Current State of Play; How to Have More Engagement; and Implicatins for Managers and Leaders. Find out more and read this issue...
January 2010	Engage and Motivate for Success	This is the first of two engagement and motivation newsletters. This issue concentrates on passion, values and creating a state in which you and your teams are passionate about their work. Articles include: Choose Your Passion; Values - A Key Driver of Passion at Work; and How Can We?!! Find out more and read this issue...
2009 issues:
	End of Year Review	This newsletter was produced as a review of the best articles of the year. Find out more and read this issue...
December 2009	Creativity and Innovation - Nobody Does It Better	With this newsletter we thought it would be a good idea to think about how to generate new and innovative ideas. Either your own or using the collective knowledge of the people around you. We'll discuss a couple of the creative thinking techniques available to you in this newsletter to help you generate new ideas, empower people and nurture creativity in your teams. Articles include: Bolster Your Creativity, Today; and 2 - 10 - 2 - How to turn 2 ideas into 10 ideas in 2 minutes. Find out more and read this issue...
November 2009	It's Only Written Words	The second of our 'Communication Series', concentrating on written communication. Articles include: Don't Blame the Reader - It's Up to the Writer to Ensure the Message is Clear; and Brush Up On Your Grammar. Find out more and read this issue...
October 2009	Thinking (and Speaking) On Your Feet	The first of our 'Communication Series' concentrating on verbal communication. Articles include: Verbal Communication in Business - More Improtant Than You Think?; 10 Ways to improve Your Verbal Communication Skills; Fear and Excitement; and Helping Listeners Receive Your Message. Find out more and read this issue...
September 2009	Using Both Sides of the Brain	This issue focuses on the left and right sides of the brain. Articles include: Building Better Brains; Are You Brain Fit?; and Left Brain... Right Brain... Find out more and read this issue...

 

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