I use personality questionnaires a lot in my work. When coaching a client, it can really help a client to understand their personality and the kinds of work that best suit them – as well as their likely strengths and weaknesses. When I interview candidates on behalf of employers, I use personality questionnaires to identify the kind of organisational culture that might suit them.

Here are 5 myths about introverts:… Read more

There’s an old English proverb that “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.

For me, I think of the saying as a warning that working long, long hours but not taking the time out for leisure activities can make people feel bored – and perhaps even less able to achieve their goals. And a recent research study suggests that this may indeed be true. However, the researchers … Read more

Many people feel insecure or inadequate. Others say that they lack confidence or have low self-esteem. But even when the words differ, the end result is often the same.

My book The Confidence Project provides a wide variety of both quick fixes and longer-term techniques for boosting confidence. But here are five different tips and ways of looking at things:

1. Be careful about using positive self-affirmations
Some gurus and … Read more

It’s easy to feel anxious, sad, irritated or otherwise negative when we find ourselves in difficult situations – but sometimes this is because of the messages that we tell ourselves (i.e. the beliefs that we have) rather than the reality of those situations.

I often hear friends as well as clients talking about themselves and their situations in ways that are more negative than their situations might actually warrant. To … Read more

Three studies have shown that a simple trick can dampen down negative emotions AND boost mental performance. What’s the trick? Answer: sitting or standing with erect posture.

In the first study, scientists headed by Erik Peper at San Francisco State University asked 125 students to complete a mental mathematics exercise. Half of the students sat upright; the other half sat slumped while they completed the mathematics task.

All of the … Read more

Want to be seen as more credible and impactful?

A lot of my one-to-one coaching clients want to make a stronger impact. Many of them come to me (either in person or via telephone/video chat) wanting to make a stronger impression during job interviews or when giving speeches and presentations. Others want to be more credible during client or business meetings – or even when dating.

If you want to … Read more

Is confidence something that you are born with – or can you develop it? The research (as well as my experience) suggests that it’s both. It seems that many personality characteristics and qualities have a genetic basis; however, our upbringing as well as what we choose to do as adults do affect how we continue to develop.

If you ever struggle with confidence in public settings, consider some of my … Read more

Do you ever worry that the people around you are judging you silently? Or do you sometimes receive comments or criticism from people that make you feel you’re being attacked?

If you ever feel judged or attacked, you’re definitely not alone. Here are five tips on coping in such situations:

1. Defuse the thought
Identify the specific thought that’s worrying you. Are you telling yourself something like “I’m going to … Read more