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(* double entendre alert) Normally, anyone in the office who implores me to 'have a go on his chopper*' gets the sharp end of an HR beasting. However, in this instance, as I was grumpy and the rest of the team were goading me I felt pressured to comply. And guess what: I enjoyed it. At this juncture you need some...

This month the Laughology team have been working a lot on the theme of change (click here and scroll down the page to read The Laughology - eight stages to organisational change). Change is a word that can cause all kinds of emotional responses in an organisation. Awareness of feelings and managing reactions towards change is an important part of any...

Last week a study into the Journal of Adolescent Health suggested the number of schoolgirls at risk of emotional problems has risen sharply. Scientists from the study analysed questionnaires completed by 1,600 pupils aged 11-13 in 2009, comparing them with similar surveys conducted five years later. A surprising 7% spike in girls reporting emotional issues was noted, while boys' answers remained...

Coming to the end of a successful team development day recently I was reminded of a long-since archived UK talent show called Opportunity Knocks. What came to mind in particular was the show's famous 'clapometer.' This measured the noise generated by the audiences' clapping as each act was announced. The more popular the act, the louder the applause and the higher...

My own sense of humour was tested this week when I was caught up in the latest strike action by French air traffic controllers. I was on my jollies in Spain and having a lovely time in the town of Granada (even happy people need holidays ) when a news flash appeared on my phone on Tuesday afternoon. The strike meant...

As you may know, today is United Nations International Day of Happiness which marks the 2012 UN General Assembly resolution calling on member states to take happiness seriously. At the time of the resolution, General Secretary Ban Ki-moon stated a “the world needs a new economic paradigm that recognises the parity between the three pillars of sustainable development. Social, economic and...

Today's leadership styles focus strongly on supporting others, emotional intelligence and people development. There will be times when you have to make unpopular decisions or give negative feedback. Effective leaders handle these situations with diplomacy and tact. Here are our top 7 leadership tips for dealing with tricky situations, including information on how to help team leaders and managers engage, motivate...

Not sure Cilla Black or Paul McCartney had the same issues around parking spaces, or bought a cat to make them feel more at home when they moved 'down souf'. In this blog post Stephanie shares her experience of managing change in her business and personal life, and how cats and your very own personal 'no parking' sign can help.  ...

2014 turned out to be a landmark year for self-styled Northern posh lad Tony Nicholl. He performed his first ever stand-up gig, learnt three important things from the experience, and proved his parents' right. Read on to find out more about Tony's experience.    In December I attended workshops to learn the skills of stand-up comedy. The intention was to raise...