Derek Arden - Business Consultant, Author and Professional Speaker

Motivaction – better than motivation. Motivation plus action

Derek Arden — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:50:59 +0000

Word of the month – MotivactionMotive-action. Not just motivation. Motive with action.This is the title of our my “motivation” presentation – based on sports research, neuro-linguistics and interviews with over 25 very successful experts.

If you want to do something you need to know -

1 – How to self motivate yourself

2 – Avoid negativity

3 – Think big

and just do it. Action is the key to success. If you think you can or you think you can’t you might just be right

Reading list for this month

Derek Arden — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:03:06 +0000

What I am reading at present

1 – Influence by Rob Yeung

A very interesting book on some latest psychological research. Useful for everyone who needs to get things done through others.

2 – Bounce by Matthew Syed

Sports psychology and common sense from the British Olympian, now a journalist.

3 – Obliquity by John Kay

Why our goals are best achieved indirectly.

My wife bought me a Kindle for Christmas, so I am also coming to terms with speed reading electronically. Any tips.

Happy New Year

Derek Arden — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:35:57 +0000

This year is going to be a great one for those of us who are positive and can see that in adversity there is great opportunity. The last few years have been so good historically and no country can continue to exist always borrowing money from others. Luckily we are in a much better position than some of our european friends

So what should we do

1 – Be positive

2 – Look for opportunities to take

3 – Keep learning

4 – Mix with people who will help us grow

Have a fantastic 2012

Can women really only keep a secret for 32 minutes? Implications for negotiations!

Derek Arden — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:24:22 +0000

According to popular newspapers if women in general can only keep a secret for 32 minutes then it has implications for negotiating. In negotiating, you must keep your cards close to your chest – and play them when the timing is right.

If you have told people about how you feel, what you want, what cards you have – you will not have the element of surprise AND more importantly the POWER.

Power negotiating means you have as much information as possible. Women be careful, keep your secrets until you need to play your cards

Merry Christmas

Derek Arden — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:54:29 +0000

A very Merry Christmas to anyone who is on line today. Today is the time to relax, have fun and be thankful for what we have. We hope you do.

Goal setting – mentoring key people. Check this objective

Derek Arden — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:32:08 +0000

Very often when I am working with a charity, a client or an individual – they cannot articulate what they want to achieve. Their goal. Their reason for being in business. Summarised in their elevator pitch or their 8 word statement is the vision or what they do.

the goal is where they want to be in 3 years time – 5 years time or 10 years time. This equally applies in a business deal or a negotiation. What do you want and does it make sense?

Never be rushed on decisions, when Negotiating or dealing with important matters

Derek Arden — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:35:06 +0000

Time is a crucial factor in decision making. Often when we are rushed that could be a negotiating tactic of the other side.

Take care, sleep on it – I have found so many times after a good nights sleep – I am in a much better position to make a sound decision

The writing hand and the brain – write things in your own hand to remember them better research says this works

Derek Arden — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:38:46 +0000

Researchers say that writing by hand activates different parts of the brain, meaning the way we learn things may depend to some degree how we write them down. I like taking long hand notes and then changing them into either a mindmap or bullet points to enhance memory.

Before a presentation I will always mindmap the facts into 7 – 10 sections will be the structure of the presentation. This in my experience helps memory retention when you are under pressure – such as in front of an audience, speaking or in an exam or an interview – OR even a negotiation

Body language – energy and the glum look at the G20 summit negotiations

Derek Arden — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:57:46 +0000

If you look at the leaders of the countries negotiating these pretty impossible deals to try and save the Euro They all look glum everytime a camera turns on them.One newspaper described it as the mandated glum look. It takes 72 muscles to frown and look glum BUT only 14 to smile. Smiling creates endorphins and the feel good factor.So to make your cup half full try smiling – its contagious. Smile and people tend to smile back :-)

Unhappy staff = Unhappy customers. Negative energy is transmitted

Derek Arden — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:05:58 +0000

Unhappy staff = unhappy customers - You never come across a company with unhappy staff and happy customers – it just doesn’t work like that – yet so many companies, banks, airlines don’t look after their people and then expect their people to look after the customers.

The negative energy transmitted to the staff by the company gets transmitted to the customers. Its a cycle that needs breaking and several front line financial services companies should sort. It needs some sensible leadership and sensible negotiations – but usually they are so cost driven, using aggressive procurement strategies - they don’t use the right people.

To get results you need to model, take advice and invest in real experts. After all you wouldn’t go to the cheapest dentist to have a tooth out – would you?