tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65322485794023942962012-01-27T13:26:40.043+11:00Cindy Tonkin coaches senior executive women in Marketing, Human Resources and Corporate Services environments. Have a question? Call me! +61 412 135 426Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.comBlogger741100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-13143232342525424462012-01-27T13:26:00.002+11:002012-01-27T13:26:40.063+11:00

Persuading people is simple when you have the six principles Coaching women in business I find that part of every woman's job is persuading others to take on her ideas, do what she asks them to or even buy what she's selling. If that's you, then you need to know Robert Cialdini's six influence principles (Commitment and Consistency, Reciprocity, Social Proof, Authority, Liking, Scarcity) This

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-60923440689654402952011-12-12T16:45:00.001+11:002011-12-12T16:49:34.099+11:00

if you're raising kids, then you may be surprised to discover that praise for intelligence *(PDF) can undermine children's motivation and performance. Essentially praise for effort is a better bet (I can see you trying hard), and encourages people to try harder. But telling them they're smart seems to be counter-productive. Kids who are praised for intelligence choose easier challenges, and

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-86131272946797704332011-11-29T13:04:00.001+11:002011-11-29T13:07:07.542+11:00

Interesting 4:30 video about research into conflict resolution and MRI research on empathy. No results thus far, but the hypothesis is that Status and Empathy are related (the higher your status, the less empathy you feel). Subjects in higher status groups made to listen to the lower status groups' point of view has a reported effect on their empathy. This researcher will use MRI results to see

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-91302549913966775392011-11-28T12:59:00.000+11:002011-11-28T13:04:18.640+11:00

When you listen to Stuck, a story about "solving a growing problem by throwing things at it", there will no doubt be some echoes of some of the organisational and personal problems we encounter on a day to day basis. I especially like how the boy "solves" the problem. 'via Blog this'

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-55855774189707576942011-10-17T21:27:00.000+11:002011-11-23T12:06:34.957+11:00

The more I read, the more I think we already know what we need to know. Fast Company's article The Creative Brain On Exercise has this luscious quote: "The sad truth is that if we make the time to exercise, it makes us so much more productive and leads to such improved creativity, cognitive function, and mood that the time we need for doing it will open up and then some--making us so much happier

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-67633755972532236352011-09-29T17:13:00.001+10:002011-09-29T17:13:32.700+10:00

We've got too many decision to make: now we have decision-fatigue. Here is some good advice on making sure you factor in what's important to you in your day, and that you make decisions while you're fresh. 'via Blog this'

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-83787118685635121512011-09-28T10:02:00.000+10:002011-09-28T10:28:48.812+10:00

I just watched this 5:15 ted talk from Sunni Brown about doodling. She says that doodling involves all 4 of the major learning senses (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Auditory-Digital) and emotion, and because of this, we retain 29% more when we doodle listening to high information density which we need to process. Rather than distracting us, doodling is concentrating us! I know when I return to

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-59107287346624188292011-08-30T17:15:00.001+10:002011-08-30T17:15:29.517+10:00

Do you want to develop a new skill or talent? Franklin Covey did a study on people's top 10 New Year’s resolutions: 1. Improve financial situation 2. Lose weight 3. Develop a healthy habit (eg, healthy eating, exercise) 4. Change employment 5. Develop a regular savings plan 6. Break an unhealthy habit (eg, smoking, alcohol, overeating) 7. Spend more time with family and friends 8. Other 9.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-41679286520974879012011-08-27T10:46:00.000+10:002011-08-27T10:46:12.175+10:00

I'm running a one-day workshop in Melbourne on October 5 2011. You can enrol in the workshop separately from the Creative Methods for which it's a pre-conference workshop. While we have a curriculum, we also have left a lot of space for you to focus on some of your own business issues, and consult others with consulting businesses about how they have overcome the issues. 5th Avenue subway

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-70967265329333181702011-07-16T04:58:00.000+10:002011-07-16T04:58:28.963+10:00

succulent in the garden at the getty center, Los Angeles, California Seth Godin's blog today, on the difference between a naive and a professional farmer goes some way to explaining some difficulties I have every now and then when talking about what I do, why I do it, why I read so much, and don't always consider 'work' as work. I believe this difference that he pinpoints is the difference

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-42008638833071530692011-06-09T07:42:00.000+10:002011-06-09T07:42:32.534+10:00

A vintner friend of mine would take a slow-selling wine off the shelves, and then a few months later launch as a special price one-off special limited offer, with great fanfare, and always sold out - she says this was how she paid her tax bill each year! Most influence professionals (managers, sales people, consultants, anyone who wants people, children or animals to comply with their requests),

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-68834677491446426262011-06-06T20:20:00.000+10:002011-06-06T20:20:50.548+10:00

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability  is a quiet, reflective piece. Here are some highlights for me: Blame is a way to discharge pain. "Whole hearted" people: have the courage to be imperfect are compassionate enough to be kind to yourself first and then to others connect with others authentically (who they are, not who they think they should be) fully embrace vulnerability - my

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-27424888561401870662011-06-02T14:55:00.000+10:002011-06-02T14:55:12.995+10:00

Every time I find a 3 cornered model I am happy (because clients have jokes about just another 4 quadrant models, so it's a change!). I'm familiar with the triangle of Achievement, Power and Affiliation from McLelland's work. I know the training needs analysis triangle of chance to - how to - want to (if people don't know how to, then it's a training or procedures problem, if they don't want to,

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-25876624447502958192011-06-02T14:22:00.000+10:002011-06-02T14:22:56.576+10:00

When I wrote my first book, The Australian Consultant's Guide, a publicist got me press interviews. I spoke to 30 journalists in about as many days, and had a whale of a time. I did, however, have a major "what do I say, how does it work?" moment (or several, in fact) before I did my first one. Wish I'd had this post from Seth Godin about how to be interviewed.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-48073295270259725872011-06-02T14:10:00.000+10:002011-06-02T14:10:12.159+10:00

I just signed up for #Trust30, "an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. It’s an opportunity to reflect on your now and create direction for your future".Maybe you want to as well!

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-14307671024621545402011-05-24T13:04:00.001+10:002011-05-26T13:01:22.829+10:00

If you're interested in using more creative methods in your organisations, or with your clients, or if you're curious to see how creative and artistic endeavour can be relevant to improving organisational productivity and quality of life, pay attention now! The talented Andrew Rixon has run two years' of Story Conferences  in Melbourne, Australia. He's just announced the next part in his trilogy.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-11642059360808329522011-05-23T16:02:00.000+10:002011-05-23T16:02:13.628+10:00

A Cool Neurological Explanation For The Power Of Small Wins A very quick (1 minute) article on the neurology of small wins...Important to have big goals, but also to have small steps to get there (one small step for mankind...)

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-63480772169954518782011-04-20T21:54:00.000+10:002011-04-20T21:54:27.234+10:00

Dan Pink reveals some great research on motivation in the workplace, showing that knowing WHY you're doing what you do makes a difference to productivity (in call centres, but probably everywhere else too!).Think Tank: Have you ever asked yourself why you're in business? - Telegraph If you're in a hurry, scroll down to the last 3 paragraphs and read a really simple thing you can do at your next

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-87220695653218022862011-04-19T11:44:00.002+10:002011-04-19T11:47:24.585+10:00

What weaknesses have you been trying to shore up when you could be flaunting them?Find out what Target, WalMart, Kmart, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer have in common.Well worth 7 minutes of your life, if only for the line: A sundial doesn't work in the shade. It's not because it's broken, it's because it's in the wrong place!YouTube - PechaKucha Milwaukee: David

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-36890192486382050612011-04-19T11:27:00.001+10:002011-04-19T11:49:29.585+10:00

Nothing worse than forgetting an important client's name! Work Smart: 5 Rules for Remembering Names | Fast Company offers you a formula to remember names more effectively. Video about 3 minutes long, and a quick recap which gives the basics: hear the name (listen for it!), spell the name, comment on the name, use the name in conversation, use the name when leaving.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-11207346040549757662011-03-07T14:03:00.000+11:002011-03-07T14:03:38.062+11:00

An MIT scientist filmed every interaction in his home between his son and his caregivers and has managed to summarise it all to track the learning of language. How cool is that? They have got software which tracked the emergence and evoluation of individual words in the kid's vocab. And the software apparently has some business applications (in terms of people's involvement with speeches and ad

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-32324243209864489052011-02-24T13:26:00.000+11:002011-02-24T13:26:28.171+11:00

Science Daily delivers the good news that when you have coffee plus a sweet thing (you choose, as long as it has glucose), you boost your brain's ability to pay attention (your brain literally needs less energy to function!). Coffee and a biscuit anyone? Indebted to Amanda Imber at Inventium for this link!

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-29319992607807887512011-02-14T12:42:00.000+11:002011-02-14T12:42:39.382+11:00

If you have a group to facilitate and want something new or different, consider this database of Group Facilitation Processes from the International Association of Facilitators. You can sort the ideas by number of participants, the focus of your session, level of difficulty, intent of the process... a treasure-trove!

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-20867566208922504532011-02-10T12:13:00.000+11:002011-02-10T12:13:14.182+11:00

Great post from the Cialdini guys that essentially says asking people to commit now to a change is hard - they think of the obstacles, the problems, the sacrifices. But ask them to commit to something in a few months, and they're more likely to say "OK". Then commitment and consistency does the rest.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-53620376482378168542011-02-07T09:17:00.000+11:002011-02-07T09:17:45.692+11:00

Wonderful infographic which not only shows a complex data set on what makes a company good to work for, it shows you how different organisations cater to different cultures (or value sets). For me one of the most valuable things is the list of 100 top words people used to describe their work culture. This is a useful starting point for asking teams and individuals what they value in their

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-51812210961145011982011-02-02T09:33:00.000+11:002011-02-02T09:33:42.097+11:00

Who knew sleep could be so useful to your cognitive and physical processes? Check out this amazing infographic summarising some facts and benefits.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-47948538389171954722011-01-25T20:07:00.000+11:002011-01-25T20:07:02.765+11:00

Want to know how happy you are, what your strengths are, how engaged, how much meaning you have in your life - go take the tests at the Authentic Happiness site.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-22183967145826791292011-01-18T08:28:00.001+11:002011-01-18T08:28:52.914+11:00

As an avid theatrical improviser, I really loved this ted video on the neurology of musical improv. Turns out improv requires you to be both self-aware and not, at the same time. I'm off to Chicago for a 5 week brush up on my long form improvisation skills this July. It's great brain gymnastics! photo: 5 Pink Ladies in an improvised show I produced and directed in the 2010 Sydney Fringe. Karena

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-79375701808416249492011-01-04T20:20:00.000+11:002011-01-04T20:20:51.844+11:00

I was surprised at how many of these recommended books for Business Owners (and leaders) I have read. I enjoyed Zilch, Linchpin, Rework and now I just want to buy Bury my heart at Conference Room B purely for its title. I've just purchased a Kindle (well, I bought it early December, it will get here eventually), and so I'll be enjoying every title I can in my beautiful new machine. I am somewhat

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-25712234725884100802010-12-29T18:35:00.000+11:002010-12-29T18:35:48.313+11:00

Sculpture photographed at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, NSW, Australia 2007 This article from the Wall Street Journal recounts how important it is as managers to scrutinise our behaviours - because everyone else is. Some of my clients report people being concerned that trouble is brewing because the boss chose to take a different route from the bathroom or came in at a different time one

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-29847400324692513282010-12-29T18:23:00.000+11:002010-12-29T18:23:18.207+11:00

For many years now I've been teaching what NLP calls triple descriptions, position shifting or going meta, which essentially asks you to put yourself in the shoes of other people and consider a given situation from their perspective. It's always been a hard slog, because people don't necessarily want to be anything but subjective from their own perspective. At the same time there are always a

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-59636736900450766762010-12-22T09:49:00.003+11:002010-12-22T09:49:59.084+11:00

Fast Company gives the 6 keys to an innovative organisation.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-29380995644397727452010-12-21T18:02:00.000+11:002010-12-21T18:02:27.136+11:00

Reviewing my notes from the Creative Innovation Conference in October lead me to find this blog post by David Rock which gives a nice overview and some good links to articles and ideas in neuro-leadership

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-78129577550625697052010-11-30T18:00:00.000+11:002010-11-30T18:00:33.776+11:00

And because I found it just after posting the last one, here's a link to another RSA animate on perceptions of Time.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-54181639661850055322010-11-30T17:56:00.001+11:002010-11-30T18:01:19.468+11:00

Heaven thank RSA Animate who are making boring video of people talking into interesting animated video. I love how the animation speeds up and slows down to meet the content needs (and when the talk's structure is displayed and shown by the way it loops back on the pictures drawn). There's Jeremy Rifkin on the empathic civilisation and the impact of mirror neurons. You've probably already seen

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-88110829245587285682010-11-17T15:41:00.000+11:002010-11-17T15:41:08.767+11:00

Cool research done by iphone (how up to the minute is that?) shows that being focused and being happy go together (well it actually says that letting your mind wander seems to cause unhappiness). So start focusing on something!

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-87357733992778739752010-10-12T17:37:00.000+11:002010-10-12T17:37:09.707+11:00

I was at the Celebrating Story 2010 Conference in Melbourne last week. I was delighted by Hilde Knottenbelt's improvised singing workshop, Melbourne Playback's performances of participants' true stories, and i even did a session myself (on story in song). Here, for the benefit of the participants are the lyrics from the story songs we wrote (plus a list of some songs which tell stories).

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-88005570499167987842010-09-21T12:19:00.000+10:002010-09-21T12:19:37.837+10:00

I spent last week at the creative innovation 2010 conference. I have so much to say and tell about it, but also I'm catching up from being out of the office for those days and because I'm producing and directing an all-women improvised mockumentary for charity, and it's taking a lot of mental thought. In the interim, check out this set of dice (yet to be produced, needing a sponsor), for doing

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-48119408925675328222010-08-19T11:56:00.000+10:002010-08-19T11:56:01.211+10:00

It's both a blessing and a curse to find that the conclusions of a new study on comparative ranking of people's work is motivational for some but not for everyone. It's so tempting to believe that we can find a one size fits all approach; but that's not what the data shows!! You may need to sign up to Business at Wharton to see the article. Sign up is free.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-21010622932861642872010-08-18T16:58:00.000+10:002010-08-18T16:58:43.276+10:00

So, today I took a giant leap and changed my blog from a blog blast (where I send my subscribers an email) to a model where you sign up and get what you want. If you want to know when I add to this blog, please subscribe to the RSS feed (on the RHS of this page). Or follow Consultconsult on Twitter. Or search for Consultants' Consultant on Facebook (and "like" it). And then when I post I'll

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-21002010263848404992010-08-16T12:55:00.000+10:002010-08-16T12:55:47.489+10:00

Check out this research from the Influence at Work people, which says that motivational images on information can improve fund raiser performance (at least in the short term).

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-10477904369888738412010-06-28T16:23:00.000+10:002010-06-28T16:23:02.090+10:00

A poem by Taylor Mali, Animated by Ronnie Bruce, on the need to speak with authority. A useful way to spend 2 minutes and 45 seconds if you have them. Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo. And if you have time to browse, search youtube for Taylor Mali, and especially this one, on what teachers make.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-74914805853367066822010-06-23T16:59:00.000+10:002010-06-23T16:59:25.807+10:00

The amazing Dan Pink looks at research showing the Bob the Builder model a way to get things done. Asking yourself “can we fix it?” before you do a task means you get more done than saying “I can fix it”. Who knew?If you have kids who watch Bob the Builder, you're maybe educating them to get stuff done!!

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-38095578924519643472010-06-21T15:37:00.000+10:002010-06-21T15:37:15.433+10:00

I love to read Michael Neill's work because it's always a nice combination of practical and profound. He has declared today Have an Average Day Day. He says striving to be average is a good thing. Read his post about it here.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-76630545290025468032010-06-10T18:02:00.000+10:002010-06-10T18:08:09.133+10:00

If you want something, then it's important to work out ways to get it. Consider this cool gadget which means an obsession with playstation becomes a way to "get your boyfriend back from the playstation". Relates to the Rory Sutherland: Sweat the small stuff | Video on TED.com I watched over breakfast this morning. Rory suggests that sometimes the way to get what you want isn't about big budgets

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-58358697631135852010-06-10T17:35:00.000+10:002010-06-10T17:35:10.667+10:00

Once you've read Clevers, check out how not to lead geeks. Worth a moment or two of your time!

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-14157573591490648752010-06-10T17:27:00.000+10:002010-06-10T17:39:41.925+10:00

I can remember when the Karpin Report (Enterprising Nation) came out in 1995, and that it was a shock to many how poorly educated Australian Managers actually were compared to other nations. I'm not certain that we've learned a lot since then. There are plenty more Cert III and Cert IV qualified people out there who just have another piece of paper. How much more educated are our managers, and

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-59774140031924553962010-05-31T14:44:00.001+10:002010-06-10T19:36:20.251+10:00

Boy, do I love the RSA Animate people, who have here created a graphic recording to accompany a 10 minutes from Dan Pinkabout Drive and Motivation. Compare it to Dan Pink's TED talk (marginally more content, less exciting visually!).All good stuff, though!

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-5102316468938481742010-05-31T14:18:00.000+10:002010-05-31T14:22:57.179+10:00

Check out this beautifully animated (graphically recorded?) video from a lecture by Philip Zimbardo (remember him from the TV lectures on Psychology Today?).It looks at different conceptions of time and how this affects our ways of thinking, acting and living in the world.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-42745896798945697532010-04-07T09:30:00.001+10:002010-04-07T09:35:22.320+10:00

I laughed at a recent 30 Rock episode where they suggest the development of a "women's porn" channel. But not in the way you think. The channel is just an attractive man agreeing with you, saying "oh really, that's incredible", "oh, she's got it in for you". We all know that sometimes we just need that listening ear.Part of what made it so funny is that a friend of mine, Jill Chivers, has

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-38013895442407728542010-03-18T18:22:00.000+11:002010-06-10T19:37:47.149+10:00

With the Australian Dollar buying more UK pounds, I just bought a book on Strengths Based Leadership from the Book Depository. Friends had recommended book depository as more economical than Amazon, and they were right - on a single book I saved $10aud, since book depository includes postage world wide. But the thing which blew me away is a little app they have where you can "watch people shop".

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-6687418914129586402010-01-01T17:41:00.000+11:002010-01-01T18:05:45.801+11:00

Jonah Lehrer, fast becoming one of my favourite authors, wrote this great article about scientists and scientific method. There's a great section talking about the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) which he names the brain's "oh shit" circuit. When we notice something which doesn't fit with our perception of how the world works, the ACC turns on.Lehrer also talks about the dorso-lateral

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-64257373128985686782009-12-02T18:54:00.000+11:002009-12-02T19:02:34.212+11:00

Found this interview with Rob Goffee who's just written a new book Clever: Leading your Smartest, most creative people. The thrust of the interview it is that managing "clevers" is about kinda staying off their radar, shielding them from internal politics, conducting and connecting. Worth a quick squiz I think. How does it resonate with the clever people you manage?

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-14201736425090519842009-11-07T10:45:00.000+11:002009-11-07T10:56:38.173+11:00

Roger Martin, who wrote the Opposable Mind, has a new book on design thinking in business, where he's again praising the logical leap. Read an interview with him in fast company. He says the biggest enemy of innovation is "prove it"; that sometimes there's a need to do a pilot because it's new. Of course there are countless products, including the aero chair, the post-it note, to prove that

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-58867528118990670402009-10-19T15:44:00.000+11:002009-10-19T16:22:29.303+11:00

So, Motivation and Money came up recently with one of my clients. Here's an interesting case put forward by Scott Underwood, quoting Dan Pink (Whole New Mind) and a marvellous set of stairs motivating people to exercise. Dan's comments that more money is only a motivator where the task is purely motor is an interesting one. And I'm interested (but not surprised) that what social science teaches

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-17788945995903650322009-09-17T15:36:00.000+10:002009-09-17T15:49:10.935+10:00

Love this Dilbert, and have forwarded it to a few friends who will get it.And I'm kind of concerned that I find it so appealing. I do have some unease about Dilbert. I work with quite a few clients who feel their boss / client is stupid, and who cannot hide that in their interactions. It does them no favours.Just read last week Leadership and Self-Deception - getting out of the box. When we are "

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-12980452793932404882009-09-16T16:27:00.001+10:002009-09-16T16:38:41.661+10:00

If you're interested in the practical application of Neurology and particular fMRI research into brain responses, check out this quick article on NeuroMarketing in Fast Company.Frito-Lay has discovered that it's better to talk about health than it is about "guilt-free" snacks; Google discovered the way they advertised on You Tube made a difference; and Microsoft is trying to work out what makes

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-75103299168893071772009-07-10T16:33:00.000+10:002009-07-10T16:45:24.775+10:00

The New Yorker suggested that we're installing ADHD in ourselves by constantly splitting our attention (texts, emails, half-read web pages, etc).Watch this 4:55 minute video and marvel at the rate of change, the amount of information we're taking in, and marvel about how quickly things change.Some of the interesting facts they cite are that there are more "smart" kids in India (top 25% of IQ

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-63322722490595263302009-07-09T17:41:00.001+10:002009-07-09T17:59:47.789+10:00

From now on, you can subscribe to an automatic email from this blog: Practical Solutions to People Problems. Go to my website www.cindytonkin.com to subscribe or subscribe here now:This will replace my old ezine, which included a section on improving your consulting business, and a section on managing better.To subscribe to my blog posts for improving your consulting business, go to my

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-22292160155220399462009-06-02T18:18:00.001+10:002009-06-17T12:45:17.352+10:00

I loved this New Yorker article on distraction. I have pulled out some of the most interesting quotes, but it is worth a read in its entirety. The fun starts on the 2nd page or so.Here are the quotes:"People who frequently check their e-mail have tested as less intelligent than people who are actually high on marijuana.".“You can’t be happy all the time...but you can pretty much focus all the

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-65550851625911469832009-05-11T12:00:00.001+10:002009-05-11T12:06:13.340+10:00

Steve Denning of the Leader's Guide to Storytelling fame has an interesting point about self-organising teams vs self-governing teams. He says high performing teams are self-organising, but someone else does the governing (deciding what to do gets in the way of getting it done).  It happened to me on Friday. A normally well-oiled improv show I am in had a change of agenda. We spent 20 minutes

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-44890252354216761992009-05-05T13:23:00.000+10:002009-05-05T13:32:08.537+10:00

Get more info on the workings of your brain, illustrated with coloured SPECT images here. It includes a simple explanation of the parts of the brain (the limbic system, basal ganglia, pre-frontal cortex, that kind of thing), with a photo of it, an explanation of its purpose and the problems it can create.The more we understand the physiological aspects of the brain, the clearer it's becoming that

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-26050282571557508892009-04-30T10:46:00.000+10:002009-04-30T10:53:42.308+10:00

"We are tethering our future to what we don't like about today", says Hildy Gottlieb, in this training seminar based on her book, The Pollyanna Principles.She makes a good point. When we know we want to be somewhere in real life (e.g. at the airport for a midday flight), we work backwards from there to make sure that we get there on time with the right stuff and the right people. So why is it

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-7662234289739748432009-04-17T15:34:00.001+10:002009-04-17T15:39:28.175+10:00

Found a marvellous site with lots of information on mental health - everything from depression to sleep problems.You can also look up your favourite personality disorder of take a quiz to determine if you're ADHD, PTSD or OCD!

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-41348733855803819802009-04-16T11:59:00.000+10:002009-04-16T12:18:17.512+10:00

Last week I ran a half-day with one of my favourite executive teams. We played improv games and put our minds to working on one of their insoluble problems (don't we all have them?).  One of the participants emailed me this morning, saying "I really absorbed one of the things we discussed from the workshop = Focus gives you energy".Turns out that play gives you energy too: "The play wave is

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-77329270306319897272009-04-11T09:16:00.001+10:002009-04-11T09:23:27.351+10:00

I occasionally coach executives who want to be more confident in front of an audience. Watch this great TED video delivered with such confidence and conviction. The preparation is tight, the powerpoint slides simple, and the delivery so relaxed. And the content (is 4am the new midnight?) quite entertaining. Rives, who delivers it, is a "performance poet". 

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-40825078912681533802009-04-02T19:10:00.000+11:002009-04-02T19:17:14.815+11:00

I always recommend ted as the place to go play around when you have 20 minutes (or 20 hours) and want a new idea.And now there's Academic Earth, with actual university lectures on topics from English to Psychology to Entrepreneurialism. They are from real lecturers and such universities as Yale, Harvard, MIT, Princeton and Stanford.It would give you a real grounding in a broad range of subjects.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-23218127115277106892009-03-24T14:28:00.000+11:002009-03-24T14:31:56.107+11:00

So if you believe that it's important to have a nice team and your style is collaborative, take a look at this blog entry about research into what makes a good CEO - "bosses as a group less agreeable than people in other occupations; successful bosses are less agreeable than unsuccessful bosses".

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-46275269471734011782009-03-23T17:32:00.001+11:002009-03-23T17:38:03.192+11:00

I have linked elsewhere to the New Yorker article by Jonah Lehrer on Insight, which  says that to solve problems we are concentrating on, but can't answer, we need to stop focusing on them, and relax (take a shower, lie in a bed a moment longer, exercise, meditate).If you'd rather listen to it than read it, go see him interviewed on the structure of epiphanies. Or go visit his great blog, the

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-21556282974243204532009-03-23T17:21:00.000+11:002009-03-23T17:31:48.443+11:00

Harvard Business Review has this great articles summarising what coaches can do for you. Most of all I agree with their recommendation that high-performers benefit most from coaching. "Blamers, victims, and individuals with iron-clad belief systems don’t change" they say.I do believe that people can change, and I agree with the principle: generally there isn't the permission to move in and play

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-55980408450266298242009-03-23T17:09:00.000+11:002009-03-23T17:41:27.573+11:00

I read a fascinating article in The International Journal of Humour Research (what don't we research?). Unfortunately you have to pay to see it, but the gist of it is that men and women cartoonists  make different types of jokes. Women use more text and more panels. Men prefer nonsense humour over women preferring incongruity-resolution humour.So if that gender difference is not peculiar to

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-34577455029220212052009-03-23T17:06:00.001+11:002009-03-23T17:09:03.063+11:00

I know there's a global financial crisis on. But life goes on. People are still starting new jobs and also leaving them.Tickle yourself with this little video on when it's time to get a new job.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-30482008519268732222009-03-23T17:01:00.000+11:002009-03-23T17:16:03.960+11:00

I loved this Michael Neill post, which says that stress is a busy mind and an icky feeling, while the opposite of stress is a quiet mind and a beautiful feeling.So yes, we all know that we're in control of our own minds and our own dispositions (don't we?). And just working out what gives me that quiet mind and beautiful feeling gives me a beautiful feeling. Hmmmm. What quietens your mind?

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532248579402394296.post-56982598522489098312009-03-17T10:58:00.000+11:002009-03-23T18:16:40.904+11:00

A small percentage of my clients have anxieties around presenting to groups. Here is a lovely set of tips based on what concert musicians do before a gig to have more confidence and focus.And then check out Scientific American's take on how to stay calm under pressure when presenting.

Cindy Tonkinhttps://profiles.google.com/107095330751903812742noreply@blogger.com0