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Benjamin Disraeli once said that ‘there are lies, damned lies and statistics’. By which he meant that you can manipulate just about any set of figures to make them sound far more impressive. Over the years, marketing people have exploited this technique many times to...

Every January, many of us make New Year’s resolutions promising to change our behaviour, often to a healthier lifestyle. Yet whilst we’re all laying off the booze, cutting down on carbs, and toning up the tummy, high street retailers and their January sales who can be...

Nowadays,  it’s all too easy to discover that your flight, leather sofa, or 42 inch plasma TV is now £100 cheaper. Which means that making a decision is not only tougher than ever, but also comes with more chance of regret. In fact the digital revolution has changed...

If you’ve ever struggled to decide which present to buy family and friends, join the club. It’s not easy thanks to the huge array of creative gifts available nowadays. Although we all think we like a wide selection of options, it’s the enormity of choice that often...

In ‘As You Like It’ Shakespeare wrote that all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players. Not bad for someone who never left England. Of course what he was really saying is that life is all about relationships. And nowhere is that more true than in...

The beauty of always being honest is that you don’t have to recall what you said to someone. Whereas whenever you lie, you always have to remember in case you’re asked again. There are the deceitful whoppers often designed to save a bit of money, and the little white...

People may learn in different ways, but it’s what you teach them that really matters. Every September in the UK sees the start of the new school term which naturally means lots of happy, excited faces around the breakfast table. I for one was always overjoyed to see...

Procrastination. As issue for you to address or are you always putting it off? People fall into one of two categories when it comes to getting things done. There are those who draw up to-do lists and manage their time efficiently, and there are those who never have...

Getting things done? It’s about time. People often ask me the secret of good time management and I always reply with the same words. ‘Ask me another time I’m running late.’ Only kidding. Good time management lies in the ability to distinguish between the important and...

Paying big bonuses doesn’t always lead to better performance In recent times, a lot of criticism has been aimed at top executives and their exorbitant salaries. Much of this has been directed towards the banking sector where bonus payments seem to bear no relation to...

Serve coffee. The next time you’re offered a drink in a business meeting, think carefully before choosing between a cup of coffee and a glass of water. Because research suggests that a shot or two of caffeine does more than just keep you awake and alert; it can...

Since the introduction of health warnings on packets, cigarette sales have actually gone up. Smokers have ‘trained’ themselves to ignore the on-pack warnings and see only the brand design. Our subconscious does most of our decision making. That’s why we go in search...

If you’ve ever been the new kid on the block, you’ll know how difficult it is to have your views accepted by the ‘established group’. For instance, imagine you’ve joined a new company and you’re attending a think tank to discuss a problem which is new to them, but old...

You get what you think you pay for………. It’s often said that here in the UK we’re a nation of shoppers Every week our high streets and shopping malls are packed full of people eager to consume goods. So you think we’d be pretty good at it. But according to the latest...

Money, money, money. Abba sang about it in the 70s, whilst in the 80s it was too tight to mention for Simply Red. Today, it’s both the lifeblood of the economy and, for some, the root of all evil. According to The Beatles it can’t buy you love, whilst others believe...

The Chameleon Effect. It’s the sincerest form of flattery. It’s well-known that our body language influences how other people perceive us. Striding purposefully into a room to deliver an important presentation gives you an air of confidence that the butterflies in...

The ability to persuade people to see or do things your way is an essential skill in business. From finding a backer for your venture, right through to persuading middlemen and consumers to buy your product requires a well thought out and convincing argument. But it...

For over 40 years, the psychologist, Professor John Gottman, has devoted his life to analysing the relationships of married couples. His wife is furious. She thought he was out fishing. During that time, he’s closely observed couples in an effort to understand what...

‘Oh would some power the gift to give us, to see ourselves as others see us!’ Of all the famous lines that flowed from eighteenth century Scottish poet Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns’ quill, perhaps the one above still has the most resonance. I for one haven’t worn a kilt...

However, it’s also true that people disclose more to those they like. So if that nutter on the train happens to be a major buyer in your industry it’s probably best to smile politely and hear him out. Similarly, people tend to prefer those to whom they have made...

Persuading people around to your way of thinking is a difficult task, particularly if they’ve already made up their mind. This stubborn intransigence manifests itself in all manner of life. From the child who won’t eat up his greens to the bun fights in the House of...

There’s one persuasion technique that has been consistently shown to work in almost any situation. It’s very practical, can be used by anyone and doesn’t involve a carrot or a stick. In the U.S. it’s known as the 'But You Are Free' technique. Over here, we’d probably...

There’s a saying that you should never judge a book by its cover. Naturally, this isn’t something that book cover designers embrace too readily. However, for the rest of us, it’s a reminder that you should never form an opinion about something or someone based on...

Don’t believe me? Read this personality assessment and see how well it describes you. You have a need for other people to like and admire you and yet you tend to be critical of yourself. While you have some personality weaknesses you are generally able to compensate...

Our capacity to make well thought-out decisions is finite. So here’s how to make better choices by eliminating ‘decision fatigue’: Every day we all have to make literally hundreds of decisions. Some of them tough and important, others simple and mundane. From what to...

As we know, hotel maids spend most of their day lugging heavy equipment in and out of bedrooms and up and down hallways. In fact, every aspect of their job is physically demanding. But here’s the thing. Most of these women don’t consider themselves to be physically...

Nowadays, everyone is in such a rush. Traffic moves faster than ever, apps provide shortcuts to our favourite sites, and we communicate electronically with just about everyone. And we expect a more-or-less instant reply. Through great leaps in technology life has...