Researching topics in detail has enabled me to get to the heart of the matter on many topics.

Running training courses on the same topics and listening to feedback from participants has enabled me to distinguish between what is useful and practical and what is merely interesting or fashionable.

My goal is to provide information that is practical, accessible and easy to read.

WHAT THE REVIEWERS SAID


TITLES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Here are brief descriptions of my current books with links to the publishers' web sites.

	The Appraisal Discussion (CIPD 1995, ISBN 0 85292 751 7) Shows you how to make appraisal a productive and motivating experience for all levels of performer - and help your own credibility in the process! This book contains practical advice on many aspects of appraisal and performance management including clarifying performance expectations, setting worthwhile objectives, using feedback to improve performance, encouraging and supporting reluctant appraisees, avoiding common appraiser problems and developing staff.
	Assertiveness (CIPD 1997, ISBN 0 85292 677 4) This book shows you how to feel naturally confident, enjoy the respect of others and easily establish productive working relationships, even with 'awkward' people. It explains why we behave as we do, helps you understand other people better, shows you how to manage your emotions, stop others manipulating you and shows you how to use simple but effective assertive techniques.
	Assertiveness for Managers (Gower 1992, ISBN 0 566 07613 6) The first half of this book describes assertiveness in detail and explains how it relates to effective management. The second half analyses seventeen typical manager/staff situations and, through example dialogues, shows you how an aggressive or submissive approach causes problems but how an assertive approach resolves the issue, improving your managerial credibility in the process. It covers situations such as reprimanding and criticising, handling resentment, delegating, resolving conflict and telling your team about tough targets.
	Agreed! Improve your powers of influence (CIPD 1999, ISBN 0 85292 801 7) Doing our jobs and achieving our goals requires the help and co-operation of others yet sometimes gaining others' commitment appears more difficult than it need be. This book shows you what the problems are, explains why they arise and gives you the skills to make gaining the co-operation of others (without manipulating them) easier than you thought possible. It explains the core skills you need in face to face influencing situations and describes proven techniques with which to improve relationships and achieve better results when working with other people such as staff, colleagues, 'superiors', suppliers and clients.
	Leadership Skills for Boosting Performance (CIPD 2002, ISBN 0 85292 924 2) Far too often leadership gurus tell us to be mavericks and tear up the rule book. Only a handful of very senior managers can do that. The rest of us need practical guidance that will develop the performance of our staff, improve our relationships with them and enhance our leadership credibility. This book shows you how to orchestrate improved performance, not by coercion or pulling rank but by creating the conditions in which people want to perform better. It helps you understand exactly what leadership is and how it relates to your managerial role, improves your understanding of what really motivates people and makes them work as a team and it helps you handle the many and varied situations when your leadership credibility is on the line. No theories, no hyperbole - just sound, practical guidance.