Positively Speaking: The Art of Constructive Conversations with a Solutions Focus By Paul Z Jackson and Janine Waldman Suppose.. You've got a difficult conversation that you're really not looking forward to You want to change your boss's mind, but he doesn't listen You need your team - or your children - to take responsibility for their own issues Top consultants Paul Z Jackson and Janine Waldman take you on a tour of successful, constructive conversations, from preparation through opening remarks to agreeing the right actions. Illustrated throughout with tips, examples and exercises, Positively Speaking will develop your skills in creating dialogue that works well for you at work, in social settings and at home. With a resource-based, solutions-focused approach, you will find it simpler and more enjoyable to get what you want by talking to people the Positively Speaking way. And the results will be positively extraordinary. Praise for Positively Speaking: "With Positively Speaking Jackson and Waldman have created my dream Solutions Focus book: they make the concepts absurdly easy to understand and - more importantly - they make the material relevant to my work and relationships " Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, Programme Director, Center of Applied Positive Psychology "The strategic application of Solution Focused approaches can help unlock the most challenging aspects of executive leadership in the modern public sector. Jackson and Waldman's approach instils the discipline of simplicity and builds confidence through positive enquiry. I have greatly benefited from working with them and recommend Positively Speaking as a way ahead." Andrew Fowlie, General Manager, NHS Grampian "For me, there's nothing like going on a course and gaining new skills - unless it's a book like 'Positively Speaking', which gives me background, theory, case studies, models and, most importantly real concrete ways to put all of that into practice in my day-to day work of coaching, facilitation and working through conflict. This book is a real asset to any practitioner who needs to 'just do it' - just great." Ann Lukens, Director, Groupworks "This resource really does live up to its aim of helping us learn more about what we can do rather than what we can't. I like the way it brings the idea of Solutions Focus to life through examples, case studies and practical exercises. I'll definitely be using these ideas in my work as a facilitator and coach." Colin Coombs, Learning & Development Manager, Tate Paul Z Jackson and Janine Waldman are co-directors of The Solutions Focus (www.thesolutionsfocus.co.uk), leading a team of consultants, facilitators and coaches who apply this approach worldwide in organisations including Beiersdorf (Nivea), PepsiCo, Reading Borough Council, John Laing and The Metropolitan Police

Resilience is about an individual's readiness to meet the world in a resourceful state. It means being equipped to deal calmly and confidently with challenging circumstances while being able to bounce back or recover quickly from setbacks.With resilience comes less stress, less stress-related illness and, ultimately, better performance. And that's good news, not just for the person concerned but for the organisation as a whole. The Resilience Pocketbook is packed with coping strategies, tools and tips to show people how to draw out, strengthen and put into practice their inbuilt resources. A questionnaire is included which will identify strengths and weaknesses, and there is a section too on building resilience within teams - invaluable advice for team leaders, HR/OD practitioners and trainers.

Whether you are running a training session, workshop or a team meeting, Paul Jackson's varied collection of games and activities will help you create an environment of improvisation and experiment, of imagination and energy, and of laughter and commitment. What better way to engage anyone in the process of learning. Each of these games and activities generates what Paul Jackson calls 'Impro Energy', a current that runs between participants. You recognize 'Impro Energy' when you see people who are clearly 'in the moment', alert to whatever is going on in the here and now. At its best, it creates an event in which the quality of work is both high and seemingly effortless. At all levels, it is great fun - a rich mixture of preparation and spontaneity. The games in this collection can be used in a variety of ways. A physical activity warms up limbs and might also breakdown barriers between group members. A verbal activity might be an exercise in creativity as well as intellectual dexterity. More than simply icebreakers, they are designed as a vehicle for content. There are always links between the game and the subject of the workshop at a metaphorical level. The Ping-pong process, for example, can be positioned to show how a relaxed attitude to making mistakes often results in fewer errors. In addition, the questions provided in the debriefing section that accompanies each game provide the means for making these connections. The book is organized by topic; group size; physical/verbal/visual components; time involved; and energy level required. This book is an excellent resource for counselors, trainers, facilitators, or workshop leaders.