Personal Effectiveness Skills Blog
Chris Farmer's Leadership and Management Training Blog
Welcome - the purpose of the blog page is to provide you with a never ending source of valuable, practical and entertaining information designed to help you get the best performance from yourself and others.
In these blogs you will find all the information you need to make faster progress in less time and effort. Here you will find all the information you need to achieve your goals. In addition to helping yourself to achieve your goals, you can use the same information to help others to achieve their goals.
Personal Effectiveness Skills Blogs
Your degree of Personal effectiveness is one of the most important things about you. We all want to be judged as effective. And any improvement in your degree of personal effectiveness would be of great benefit to you and your family.
You can develop your personal effectiveness by taking active steps to develop yourself in six main areas of activity:
- Setting goals and achieving them
- Communicating in clear convincing and inspirational manner
- Planning ahead, preparation and prevention of avoidable error
- Handling difficult people, setbacks, criticism and defeats
- Self-mastery: Self-control, self-motivation, and self-motivation
- The ability to inspire positive emotional responses in the minds of others. (Leadership)
If you want to improve your personal effectiveness rating take the above list and work on improving each one.
Personal Effectiveness Skills Blogs
From Information to Wisdom - Four Layers of Understanding
19 November 2024
Learn how to move from information vs knowledge to deep understanding and wisdom. Discover four clear levels, GLURPS checks, and tips to apply knowledge ethnica
Continue Reading >Get the Most From Every Day
30 July 2024
Learn daily productivity hacks: set clear goals, plan tasks, prioritise work, delegate, stay organised, take breaks and keep a positive attitude to win every 
Continue Reading >Mental Well-Being At Work
5 March 2024
Learn how mental wellbeing at work raises productivity. Five clear tips help staff guide thoughts, build self-belief, stay fit, pick positive peers and organise
Continue Reading >The Mind-Body Connection
6 February 2024
Learn how the mind body connection helps you lift mood, cut stress and build confidence; use simple posture and action steps to feel happier in minutes.
Continue Reading >Emotional Management
14 November 2023
Learn practical emotional management to reduce fear, build confidence and break negative thought cycles. Use simple questions to guide a positive mindset shift.
Continue Reading >Why Self-Discipline Matters for Success
10 October 2023
Learn why self-discipline fuels personal success. Discover proven tips to set goals, manage time, beat procrastination and build lasting habits that stick.
Continue Reading >Don't Reward Yourself With Failure
15 August 2023
Swap cake for healthy rewards that boost mind and body. Learn smart, non-food reward ideas to celebrate success wisely and strengthen positive habits today.
Continue Reading >Actualising Potential: the Power of Purposeful Practice
8 August 2023
Discover how purposeful practice, clear goals and feedback turn talent into mastery. Build mental resilience and unlock potential through focused daily effort.
Continue Reading >The Essential Economic Principle to Financial Success
18 July 2023
Discover how the rule to spend less than you earn and invest the difference boosts business finances, avoids debt, builds a safety net and fuels steady growth.
Continue Reading >Water: your Essential Partner for Outstanding Workplace Performance
27 June 2023
Discover why hydration at work matters. Learn easy water intake guidelines that boost focus, energy and health, and find simple tips to drink two litres a day.
Continue Reading >Reducing Fear and Replacing It With Confidence
25 April 2023
Discover ten proven ways to overcome fear and build confidence through positive thinking, clear goals and daily action. Join our free confidence webinar.
Continue Reading >The Rapid Method for Genuine Self-Esteem
3 May 2022
Learn how the RAPID method builds genuine self-esteem and better mental health. Train mind to be rational, active, purposeful, independent and disciplined today
Continue Reading >How to Stop Worrying
12 March 2022
Learn how to stop worrying by spotting the real problem, setting clear goals, drafting a rapid action plan and testing it until anxiety gives way to steady, ver
Continue Reading >Active Vs Passive Mind
26 October 2021
Learn how an active mind asks 'why', spots cause and effect, and unlocks critical thinking. Shift from passive mind habits and solve problems with proven rules.
Continue Reading >Psychology of Success
24 August 2021
Learn the psychology of success: focus on goals, plan, persist, track feedback, adapt and work with others. Train your mind and turn any aim into real success.
Continue Reading >How to Develop a Resilient Mind-Set
3 August 2021
Learn proven steps to build a resilient mind set: swap fear for clear thinking, ask empowering questions and boost confidence for work and life success.
Continue Reading >Mind Hack to Improve Performance
26 January 2021
Use this mind hack to improve performance: stop asking 'Can I do this?' and focus on 'How can I do this?' to save energy, raise confidence and hit goals faster.
Continue Reading >How to Get the Best Performance From Yourself and Others.
22 December 2020
Learn how clarity in communication, rational decision making and a positive mindset help you get the best performance from yourself and others to achieve goals.
Continue Reading >The Importance of Resilience
3 November 2020
Learn how resilience training turns stress into growth. Discover simple skills that help you bounce back, boost work output and unite teams during change.
Continue Reading >What is Impression Management?
27 October 2020
Learn practical impression management tips to secure good first impressions, avoid careless behaviour, and shape how others judge your professional image.
Continue Reading >How to Lift My Mood
6 July 2020
Discover how to lift your mood by choosing a better mental diet. Swap gloomy news for inspiring ideas and feel brighter within days. Learn simple steps now.
Continue Reading >How to Get Reliable Information
29 May 2020
Learn four trusted methods-sense perception, logical reasoning, intuition, and expert advice-to find reliable information and avoid misinformation every day.
Continue Reading >How to Get the Best From Lockdown
17 April 2020
Learn how to get the best from lockdown: use facts, guide feelings and act with purpose. Build a post-lockdown plan and join our free online growth course.
Continue Reading >How to Handle a Crisis Situation
31 March 2020
Master crisis management with a clear six-step cycle: get facts, rank them, set moral goals, plan, act and refine to stay calm, limit damage and recover faster.
Continue Reading >How to be More Self-Disciplined In Six Easy Steps
18 February 2020
Master self discipline steps: link pain to delay, pleasure to progress, choose strong peers, start work at once, reward each win and grow lasting control.
Continue Reading >Six Mind Hacks to Boost your Confidence
14 February 2020
Learn six mind hacks to boost confidence: stop comparing, accept yourself, gain knowledge, practise skills, use confident language, update your self-image.
Continue Reading >How to Use the Pleasure/Pain Principle
7 January 2020
Use the pleasure pain principle to guide behaviour change. Swap short-term pleasure for long-term gain, avoid painful consequences, and thrive in work and life.
Continue Reading >How to be Successful In Six Hours
6 September 2019
Learn the Six Hour Success method: split your day into three focused blocks, build habits, follow the 717 diet and celebrate small wins to hit any goal.
Continue Reading >How to Handle Distractions
30 August 2019
Learn eight proven steps to avoid distractions, improve focus and finish key tasks. Discover how changes to habits and workspace boost productivity every day.
Continue Reading >How to Improve your Memory
9 July 2019
Learn how to improve memory with ten clear tips: focus hard, link ideas, repeat, review and live healthy. Gain better recall today with these practical steps.
Continue Reading >The Single Best Way to Improve your Brain Power
11 June 2019
Improve brain power fast with the echo listening technique. Repeat words a beat later to sharpen focus, boost memory and trust. Simple exercise you can use.
Continue Reading >The Memory Palace Technique
4 June 2019
Learn the Memory Palace, a proven method of loci that turns facts into vivid images. Our clear guide helps you improve memory, recall faster and aid study.
Continue Reading >Sustainable Success
31 May 2019
Learn sustainable success: work hard, rest well, avoid burnout. Get a simple formula to guard mental and physical health and keep high output for decades.
Continue Reading >How to Improve your Life
3 May 2019
Apply the self-discipline rule 'If you should, you must' to improve your life. Reason over emotion sparks behaviour change, productivity, success and health.
Continue Reading >The Art of Clear Thinking
23 April 2019
Learn the art of clear thinking. Spot proof, sort claims into true, false, possible or arbitrary, and cut worry with a proof-based method that sharpens decisons
Continue Reading >How to Respond to a Negative Situation
9 April 2019
Learn how to handle negative feedback, defuse emotion and restore any relationship in five clear steps: listen, empathise, focus on facts and act logically.
Continue Reading >Having the Last Word
22 January 2019
Learn how to end an argument by letting others have the last word. This simple communication skill stops a row, avoids push-back, and plants ideas that grow.
Continue Reading >Do you Know When to Stop?
11 January 2019
Know when to stop arguing, joking, eating, drinking and working. Practical self-control tips improve health, relationships and work-life balance today.
Continue Reading >How to Manage your Emotions
18 December 2018
Learn how to manage emotions by guiding conscious thoughts and reshaping deep beliefs. Get clear steps to build confidence, cut stress and gain lasting control.
Continue Reading >How to Think Straight
23 November 2018
Learn to think straight by putting facts before feelings, testing ideas against evidence, removing bias and rejecting contradictions so choices fit reality.
Continue Reading >How to Make the Most of your Journey to Work
6 November 2018
Use your journey to work as a productive commute: learn a language, set goals or simply rest. Discover 8 smart down time activities to make travel time count.
Continue Reading >What is Autosuggestion?
19 October 2018
Learn how autosuggestion turns self-talk into a mental training tool. Follow simple steps to replace negative thoughts, build confidence and improve performance
Continue Reading >Theory and Practice
28 August 2018
Replace risky trial and error with a proper theory and practice approach. Ideas that explain, predict and guide drive faster success and stronger leadership.
Continue Reading >How to Improve your Personal Initiative
17 August 2018
Learn how to boost personal initiative with five simple actions that build confidence, cut procrastination and move you from thought to action right now.
Continue Reading >What is Common Sense?
3 August 2018
Learn what common sense means, why facts first thinking beats myth, and how to build practical decision skills for work and life. Boost everyday logic now.
Continue Reading >Problem Solving Skills
31 July 2018
Learn structured problem solving skills: define issues, gather facts, judge options, act, monitor. Boost workplace results and confidence with a six-step plan.
Continue Reading >How to Persuade Someone to Do Something
3 July 2018
Discover six easy persuasion tips that prove your idea, show personal gain and keep tasks simple and fun, so you can persuade someone and gain support fast.
Continue Reading >How can I Stop Feeling So Tired All the Time?
22 June 2018
Feeling tired all the time? Discover five simple habits-better nutrition, aerobic exercise, strength work, stretching and planned rest-to boost energy fast.
Continue Reading >How to Respond to Any Situation
15 June 2018
Learn how logical thinking helps you avoid bias, weigh facts and pick the best response in work and life. Use our clear steps to run on reason every time.
Continue Reading >How can I Make People Like Me?
29 May 2018
Want to make people like you fast? Apply ten proven social skills: ask, listen, smile, stay positive, keep your word and help others. Build trust and success.
Continue Reading >The Power of Personal Initiative
13 April 2018
Learn why personal initiative matters, how to set goals, break tasks into small steps and beat procrastination so you can start now and achieve success.
Continue Reading >How to Decide
23 March 2018
Struggle to choose? Use this seven-step decision making method: frame a yes-or-no question, weight each pro and con, add the scores and act with confidence.
Continue Reading >How to Feel Great Everyday
16 February 2018
Learn how positive self talk and clear daily questions use the power of words to help you feel great everyday, stop bad thought habits and reach your goals.
Continue Reading >What is your Purpose?
12 December 2017
Discover how a clear life purpose, centred on adding value to others and actualising your potential, boosts personal growth, work success and true fulfilment.
Continue Reading >Distinguish Truth From Falsehood
22 August 2017
Gain a clear truth definition and use the contradictory case test to sort fact from opinion, dodge fallacy, curb media bias and sharpen critical thinking.
Continue Reading >Self-Control
15 August 2017
Learn how self-control turns thought into action, tames mood swings and builds habits. Use mind over mood tips to lift results, cut stress, master yourself.
Continue Reading >The Difference Between an Asset and a Liability
21 July 2017
Discover the difference between asset and liability, grow wealth, pick the right people, build good habits. Cut costs, boost income, take our work habits quiz.
Continue Reading >The Benefits of Following a Good Exercise Programme
2 June 2017
Discover how a good exercise programme that mixes strength, endurance and flexibility training helps you improve physical health, energy and mood at any age.
Continue Reading >How to be More Efficient
26 May 2017
Learn how to be more efficient with nine productivity tips. Set clear goals, prioritise tasks, focus on one job, delegate, automate and take smart breaks.
Continue Reading >Habit Pattern V Thought Process
9 December 2016
Learn how to break bad habits by spotting auto-pilot routines, swapping them for disciplined action and positive self-talk, boost personal effectiveness daily.
Continue Reading >How can I Improve My Performance At Work?
22 November 2016
Learn how to improve performance at work with a positive attitude, sharp skills, care for others and friendly action. Add more value and watch your career rise.
Continue Reading >Better Emotional Intelligence Training
23 August 2016
Learn how emotional intelligence training helps you control thoughts, manage emotions and guide talks to goals. Join our one-day course or try the free EQ quiz.
Continue Reading >The Seven Habits of Highly Defective People
22 July 2016
Learn the One Bug Rule and seven bad habits that wreck personal effectiveness. Swap them for good habits-be honest, punctual and organised-to build trust fast.
Continue Reading >Get Better Results by Taking Better Actions
21 June 2016
Want better results at work and life? Learn how daily study and self-improvement help you take better actions and see gains fast. Try our free quiz today.
Continue Reading >Make Every Day a Work Day: Every Day a Study Day
14 June 2016
Success daily habits beat overnight wins. Learn why success is not an event, how to pay the price in advance, and which daily steps build a winner mindset.
Continue Reading >Be Committed, Consistent and Progressive
27 May 2016
Master the CCP formula for self improvement: commit 100%, act consistently and raise targets weekly. Track numbers and turn steady progress into a better life.
Continue Reading >Don't be Afraid to Ask for Help
1 April 2016
Learn why asking for help at work boosts teamwork, cuts errors and lifts results, plus simple tips to give and receive support for shared success every day.
Continue Reading >Operate According to your Plan, Not your Mood
22 March 2016
Stick to your plan and act with purpose, not mood. Learn self-discipline tips and rational decision making to achieve goals consistently and boost productivity.
Continue Reading >Self-Discipline: Mind Over Mood
17 November 2015
Boost success with self discipline: let logic guide actions, tame mood, build good habits and avoid mistakes. Learn simple mind over mood tips today. Start now.
Continue Reading >How to Develop More Motivation
6 October 2015
Use this four-step method to build motivation: set clear goals, list strong reasons, craft an action plan and act despite uncertainty. Stay motivated every day.
Continue Reading >How to Remember People's Names
2 October 2015
Struggle to remember names? Learn a quick 3-step hear-link-repeat method that helps you lock in any name, boost first impressions and grow social confidence.
Continue Reading >Take Pride In Yourself
23 June 2015
Learn how healthy pride and a positive self-image let you build self-esteem, overcome fear and use the self-fulfilling prophecy to drive lasting personal growth
Continue Reading >Emotional Intelligence
15 May 2015
Discover what emotional intelligence is, why it matters, and six clear tips to build empathy, rapport and success. Try our quick EQ quiz to check your progress.
Continue Reading >Happy At Work
3 March 2015
Discover five proven ways to stay happy at work: create a comfy space, set clear goals, build a solid plan, use kind words and keep healthy for lasting output.
Continue Reading >Seven Habits
6 January 2015Break autopilot and redesign life with small daily habits that boost money, health and relationships. Learn simple steps to swap bad routines into good ones.
Continue Reading >Know When to Stop
12 December 2014
Learn to know when to stop waiting, talking, eating, working and resting. Simple self-control tips help you act now, listen more, avoid burnout, restore balance
Continue Reading >What Does It Take to Develop Personal Effectiveness?
20 April 2014
Learn how self discipline, daily habits and a positive mind lift personal effectiveness. Follow quick steps to avoid delay, set high standards and progress.
Continue Reading >Four Personal Effectiveness Training Skills
10 April 2014Learn four personal effectiveness training skills-goal setting, clear language, rational conflict handling and a positive attitude-to lift work results.
Continue Reading >How Good are you on a Bad Day?
31 March 2014Learn how to stay positive on a bad day with five clear steps: hold your goal, break tasks down, act fast, avoid numbing habits and lean on upbeat people.
Continue Reading >What is Self Discipline?
24 March 2014Learn the self discipline definition, why overriding mood with clear goals boosts success, and how a disciplined mindset raises fulfilment and output levels.
Continue Reading >How can I Have More Energy At Work?
1 November 2013
Learn how to keep energy at work high with smart food, sound sleep, movement, deep breathing, detox tips and goal focus. Beat the afternoon slump every day.
Continue Reading >How can I Improve My Performance?
19 September 2013Follow our six-step personal development plan to improve performance, set ambitious goals, learn from mistakes and evolve your habits for lasting success.
Continue Reading >Personal Effectiveness - Emotional Intelligence Training
7 May 2013Learn emotional intelligence training: manage thoughts, steer feelings, build confidence and inspire others. Simple steps turn worry into an optimistic mindset.
Continue Reading >How to Improve your Personal Effectiveness
12 April 2013Learn how personal effectiveness grows when you set clear goals, work to top standards, use better tools and order tasks well to save time and boost output.
Continue Reading >How are you Doing? What an Excellent Question
17 August 2011Turn the everyday greeting into a true self assessment. Compare this year to last, your goals, peers and perfection, then use the insight to improve every year.
Continue Reading >How to Cut Costs and Become More Efficient
5 July 2011Learn five proven steps for cost reduction: simplify processes, separate goals, ask 'what for?', and align your team to increase efficiency and cut waste.
Continue Reading >Improving your Personal Effectiveness
7 December 2009Learn a simple six-question routine that sharpens personal effectiveness, speeds progress and turns time management, goal setting and action plans into results.
Continue Reading >Blog Categories
Accelerated Learning (6)
Accelerated learning techniques are special methods of organising information, so that you can more rapidly memorise and more accurately recall it on demand. Accelerated learning also includes mind mapping and creative thinking techniques.
Assertiveness (5)
Assertiveness is a both a communication style and a mind-set which, when combined, allows a people to express their meaning using just the amount of forcefulness, in relation to their body language, voice tone and spoken language.
Change Management (16)
Change management training is how to use the fact of continuous change, to work FOR you, rather than against you. It is a fact that all improvement implies change, but many people hate change. Change management is about training people to love change as a means of making the future better.
Coaching, Mentoring and Developing Staff (10)
There is a pressing need to develop the next generation of leaders, managers and technical experts. One way to develop staff is through coaching and mentoring. To be an effective coach and mentor is not an easy skill to master. These blogs discuss the skills of coaching, mentoring and staff development.
Communication - Clear Communication (82)
One to the most important facets of communication is clarity. Whenever you write or speak, your words should denote only one possible meaning. If your words can be properly interpreted in multiple ways, then you are creating the conditions for confusion, error and misunderstanding. These blogs discuss the nature of clear communication.
Communication - Listening Skills (6)
Communication includes the ability to attend to, understand and memorise what people say to you. Effective Listening is an active, not a passive process. These bloggs discuss what it takes to be a good listener.
Communication - Nonverbal Communication (8)
Communication includes a large visual component. How you appear, as you speak, makes a big difference to how your message is received. These blogs are about how to best use your body language. (Eye contact, posture, dress, hand and arm gestures, etc.)
Communication - Persuasive Communication (41)
Persuasion is the art of convincing others that your ideas are good, right, fair and practical, and in addition, persuasion includes motivating people to put your ideas into action. Persuasion is a key communication skill that everyone should study. These blogs discuss how to be more persuasive.
Communication - Written Communication (5)
A part of your communication is in the written form. Writing well is a skill that most people do not study, though it is of immense importance. These blogs discuss how you might improve your written communication.
Conflict Management and Handling Difficult People (28)
Conflict is inevitable, and when it occurs, you need to resolve it quickly and efficiently. Conflict management (and handling difficult people) is about managing your communication and your emotions, so that you arrive at a negotiated solution as quickly as possible. This series of blogs discusses the various ways you can best manage conflict.
Decision Making and Problem Solving (22)
Decision making is the skill of selecting the best option from many options. And problem solving is the skill at determining the causes and implications of a problem and finding efficient remedies. This series of blogs discusses the elements of effective decision making and problem solving.
Goal Setting (9)
Success is the achievement of a worthwhile goal. And therefore, the first step to achieving a goal is to set it. Goal setting is the starting point of all achievement and is one of the most important topics you could study. This series of blogs discuss the elements of goal setting.
Leadership and Management (153)
Leadership is the art of setting a clear goal and inspiring others to achieve it. Management is the art of organising resources so as to most efficiently achieve that goal. This series of blogs discuss the details of leadership and management.
Mental Health (12)
Mental health is the skill of managing your own mind so as to achieve mental stability and a high degree of rationality. Mental ill health is the opposite, mental instability and irrational actions. This series of blogs, discusses how you might manage your mind.
Motivation (35)
Motivation is an emotion that induces action. Without motivation, nobody would achieve anything of value. This series of blogs discusses the various ways you can motivate yourself and others.
Other (45)
Whilst interesting and informative in their own right, these blogs don't fit into a category.
People Management (13)
People management is a combination of skills including goal setting, communication, planning, handling conflict and motivation skills. This series of blogs discusses people management skills.
Personal Development (75)
The best investment you can make is in your own personal development. If you develop your skills, knowledge and experience, then you will maximise your potential to produce excellent results. This series of blogs looks at the details of personal development.
Personal Effectiveness (87)
You are not paid for how hard you work; you are paid for your effectiveness. It is possible to improve your effectiveness and get more valuable work done in less time and effort. This series of blogs discusses how you might improve your personal effectiveness and therefore speed up your rate of progress.
Positive Thinking (9)
The quality of your results is based upon the quality of your actions. And your actions are controlled by your thoughts. To simultaneously improve both your material results and your mental health, it is vital to develop the skills of positive thinking.
Stress Management (4)
Stress can be both good for you and bad for you. Good Stress triggers improvement. Bad stress grinds you down. Stress management is about using stress to help you to improve, and to avoid the negative effects of too much stress. These blogs discuss the various aspects of stress management.
Supervisory Management Skills (4)
Supervisory management skills are a combination of five major skill sets, setting goals, communication skills, planning, performance management and motivation. These blogs discuss the details of supervisory management skills.
Team Leadership (7)
For the most part, we all work in teams. Leading the team effectively can make all the difference to the performance of the team, as a whole. This series of blogs discuss the details of team leadership.
Teamwork (19)
Teams are often composed of people who have very different personalities and skills. In order to perform well, the members of the team must work well together and play to each other’s strengths. This series of blogs covers the importance of team work skills.
Time Management (17)
Time management is about prioritising, planning, organising and delegating, so that, at any moment, you are always adding the most value, and setting the conditions for your future success. This series of blogs investigates how you might better manage your time.