What's New On The Happy Manager

This blog contains updates and commentary from The-Happy-Manager.com

Happiness information, ideas and discussion for those who are arguably best placed to make the workplace a happy place - managers!

We'd love to hear back from you so if you've any comments or suggestions, just go to our "contact us" page, or use the comment form at the end of most pages. Comments and our responses will appear here on the blog page.

With your help we can spread the word, and find a better way to manage!

Sep 21, 2008, Most Read Pages on the Happy Manager

Find our most popular pages with our regularly updated list of most read pages.

Sep 20, 2008, Leadership Stories

Leadership stories are arguably the most powerful of all business related stories. What better way to be inspired by the vision of good leaders than by their stories.

Sep 20, 2008, Essence of Leadership? Seeing Triumph in Tragedy

Thomas Edison showed the essence of leadership in this story from Jim Clemmer. Renowned as one of America's most famous inventors, Edison showed powers of leadership which would rival any general.

Sep 9, 2008, The Happy Manager at the Carnivals

The third Leadership Development Carnival is up and running at Great Leadership. A growing list of leadership and leadership development advice and commentary, this month from over 60 leadership pundits. Carnival organiser, Dan McCarthy, has promoted our submission: Leadership Philosophy, to his "Featured Posts" section.

Thanks also to Elizabeth Harrin over at A Girl's Guide to Project Management. She's posted our article: Project Management Model. There's some very interesting reading on Elizabeth's site, and not just for girls!

Sep 8, 2008, Goal Setting Quotes

A collection of great goal setting quotes. To help you decide what you want to do, then to help you believe you can do it!

Sep 3, 2008, 8 Goal Setting Questions to Make a Difference

Goal setting questions. Here we suggest some questions to help you set the goals you really want to achieve.

Aug 29, 2008, Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow

What are the qualities of a leader? John C Maxwell has compiled a pretty definitive list. See what you think of his 21 qualities and cast your eye over some of our related articles......

Aug 28, 2008, The Secret of My Success.........

The Secret of My Success? This challenging story demonstrates how Christopher Reeve bravely redefined success. It's a story that will make us all think, then maybe think again......

Aug 27, 2008, 5 Whys - Getting to Root Causes, Fast!

5 Whys a simple but powerful problem solving tool. It helps you get to the root cause of any problem, fast!

Aug 26, 2008, In Search of Excellence

In Search of Excellence, one of the best selling business books ever published, still has much to teach the managers of today.

Aug 25, 2008, Personal Goal Setting: Ask Questions of Yourself

Personal goal setting is all about setting and meeting challenges. Quite often though, the first challenge is to ask and answer the right questions. Spend time on these before you take aim and fire!

Aug 24, 2008, Leadership Philosophy: it's the little things that count!

If you were asked to consider a basic leadership philosophy, what immediately springs to mind? Vision, inspiration, communication and drive are all important. But never overlook the little things.....

Aug 21, 2008, Seven Step Problem Solving Technique

Here's a seven step problem solving technique full of tips to help ensure that you arrive at the best solutions to your problems.

Aug 19, 2008, Project Management Checklist

About to start a project? You'll need a project management checklist, especially when project management isn't your day job.

Aug 15, 2008, Barriers to Goal Setting - take it step by step

One of the biggest barriers to goal setting can be the thought that, sometimes our goals can seem beyond our reach. Use the next-mile principle to help you overcome your barriers to goal setting.

Aug 14, 2008, Happy Quotes: because you might as well be happy!

Discover a selection of happy quotes from the challenging "what makes you come alive", to the provocative "nobody really cares if you're miserable so you might as well be happy!"

Aug 12, 2008, Critical Success Factor: Managing Waste in the Workforce

One critical success factor for effective managers is the way we deal with waste. This article discusses ways in which we can identify and manage waste in the workforce.

Aug 11, 2008, Think Happy Thoughts

Many thanks to Miguel Trujillo for featuring our Happiness Goal Setting Tip on his blog: Think Happy Thoughts. Miguel hosts a regular Happiness Carnival which is well worth looking out for.

Aug 7, 2008, Leadership Development Carnival #2

The second Leadership Development Carnival is up and running at Great Leadership. An excellent selection of leadership and leadership development advice and commentary, from over 40 leadership pundits. Carnival organiser, Dan McCarthy, has posted our article: Characteristic of Leadership - Seeing Things Differently. Do you have any favourite Happy Manager articles which you think we should submit next? Let us know on our Contact Us page.

Aug 7, 2008, Leadership Exercises: putting the best ideas to work

Leadership exercises is our third article in a series on learning from the best. Here we suggest a tool to help you apply the ideas of Gurus, and use them effectively in your organisation.

Aug 4, 2008, Shiny Happy People: making yourself happier

Is REM's Shiny Happy People a song that puts a smile on your face? If not, what does? Here we discuss some quick and easy ways to lift your mood.

Jul 31, 2008, Self Motivation: Let It Flow.

Does self motivation come easy to you? We often talk about people being "in the flow" or "in the zone". In our second article on optimum performance we ask how do you create "flow" at work?

Jul 31, 2008, Personal and Career Development: it's up to you!

The secret to your personal and career development? It's up to you: "You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself."

Jul 30, 2008, Success Maker? Developing the Happy Manager...

Do you want to be a success maker? Investing in personal development will contribute to personal and career success. For you and for your colleagues.

Jul 29, 2008, Goal Setting Activity – 5 steps to self-development at work

Possibly the most effective goal setting activity is the one that contributes to your self-development. Attending to your personal growth is the most important goal you can set but how do you do this?

Jul 25, 2008, Happiness Charlie Brown Style.

Happiness Charlie Brown style is a light hearted take on happiness according to Charlie Brown. But there are some hidden truths in the often pained views of the famous comic strip character.

Jul 25, 2008, The No Asshole Rule

The No Asshole Rule is a timely rebuff to the mean-spirited of today's working world. How do you identify assholes at work? How do you get rid of them? How can you cope with them if you can't?

Jul 24, 2008, Motivation in the Workplace: How Do You Define Your Work?

What's your motivation in the workplace? Would you define your work as a job or a calling? Here are two stories to show how you can make more out of your job, however you view it!

Jul 23, 2008, Importance of Time Management: Do We Value It?

The Importance of Time management? Time is the least considered, worst managed, and yet most valuable resource we have. Our problem with time? Do we really value it?

Jul 23, 2008, Leading With Vision: Bridging the Gap.

Leading with vision requires foresight but do leaders also need to look elsewhere? Looking ahead is important but thinking about those who will follow is the sign of a great leader.....

Jul 22, 2008, The Happiness Hypothesis

The Happiness Hypothesis blends ancient wisdom with modern science: "superbly argued, crystal clear and intelligent.......and....reading it did actually make this reviewer happier."

Jul 21, 2008, Develop Good Leadership Qualities by Learning from the Best .

How important is it to develop good leadership qualities by learning from the best? This our second article on gurus explores their value: why should we bother to learn from the gurus?

Jul 20, 2008, The Key Success Factor in Getting Things Done? Do it Now!

What would you say is the key success factor in getting things done? "It's a job that's never started that takes the longest to finish."

Jul 19, 2008, The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of The Learning Organisation

The Fifth Discipline popularised a whole new way of thinking about the way organisations function. Peter Senge's ideas still profer powerful challenges to this day.

Jul 17, 2008, Improving Motivation at Work: In Search of Optimum Performance

How do you improve motivation at work? Perhaps the most crucial work-goal for managers is to achieve optimum performance. Both in themselves and in their staff......

Jul 15, 2008, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

In his seminal book: Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam chronicles critical social changes in the US. He concludes we're becoming more disconnected from family, friends, and neighbours. Time to re-build?

Jul 11, 2008, Destination Success? Try the Road Less Travelled.

Is your destination success? Perhaps; if you try taking a road less travelled. This classic poem might inspire you to reach that destination, and maybe to move from good to great......

Jul 10, 2008, Finding Happiness In Life: Bowling But Not Alone

Fewer of us are finding happiness in life, yet it appears there is one single factor which, more than any other, can bring us happiness. In Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam makes the connection.

Jul 9, 2008, Getting Things Done - how to achieve stress-free productivity.

Getting things done. Is work overwhelming you? Have you more to do than there is time in which to do it? Then read on! Maybe David Allen's deserved best seller can help.

Jul 8, 2008, Leadership Quote: "The ultimate measure of a man..."

Martin Luther King's leadership quote: "the ultimate measure of a man..." can be interpreted in many ways - and by many people. Here Bono quotes Belafonte to deal with one of his own life challenges.

Jul 7, 2008, Exploring Learning Quotes: Potential to Inspire and Wisdom to Adopt.

Explore our selection of learning quotes to be encouraged, enlightened or energised!

Jul 6, 2008, The New Leadership Development Carnival

The new Leadership Development Carnival is up and running at Great Leadership, hosted by Dan McCarthy. This month’s Carnival is an excellent selection of leadership and leadership development advice and commentary, from over 30 leadership pundits. We've posted our article, Good Leaders Learn from the Best, but we look forward to sending others in following carnivals.

Jul 4, 2008, Happiness is a Warm Gun? What to do if you hear: "you're fired!"

Happiness is a warm gun? if you've heard those now famous words: "you're fired", don't panic. Try our Plan - A, to help you deal with job loss.

Jul 1, 2008, Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life.

Finding Flow: everyone is capable of reaching a state of effortless concentration and enjoyment. How can we increase the "flow" experiences in our lives, and can "flow" apply at work?

Jun 30, 2008, If It Makes You Happy, Do It - but think about it first.....

If it makes you happy, do it - but think about it first..... We discuss three approaches to increasing your happiness by thinking about it.

Jun 30, 2008, The Power of Positive Thinking: 5 Questions to Transform Problem Solving

From problem solving to opportunity creating using the power of positive thinking. This management tool uses 5 questions to help you radically change the way you solve problems.

Jun 29, 2008, Why Are Happy People So Happy?

What makes happy people so happy? Some psychologists suggest one of the secrets of happiness is to build more complexity into our lives. We argue the case for simplified complexity!

Jun 28, 2008, Happiness Study - Happiness: The Science Behind Your Smile

A happiness study by Daniel Nettle. Combining results from the latest psychological studies, Nettle asks: what is happiness, and what makes us happy or unhappy?

Jun 27, 2008, Leadership Quality: Seeing the Bigger Picture

"I'm building a cathedral!" Seeing the bigger picture is an essential leadership quality. Read these great lessons from one of the most powerful leadership stories.

Jun 24, 2008, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

7 habits is a classic self-development book by Stephen Covey. If you want to take control of your own development, influence others, balance your priorties and build a purposeful life, start here!