February 08 - Busy, busy, busy!

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Real Bob the Builder(s)

Pier at Glenelg

So far 2008 has been a great year for me! I thought I'd get some rest in January and February, but it was packed with interesting and fun client work!

I spent a great day in Glenelg (a suburb of Adelaide) after a client gig (on how to build better rapport with clients), and that's where the photos you see in this ezine were taken.

By the way, if you haven't been on this ezine group for very long, or if you're after something specific, check out the back copies of this ezine grouped by themes page.

And my art exhibition Coastal, went well. I'm selling the works which didn't make it into people's lounge rooms on ebay. (auction closes 8 March 08). Maybe you can grab a bargain – just follow the links, or search Cindy Tonkin!

Cindy

In this month's ezine we have:

• Improving your consultancy: The effect of colour, understanding PSI, Sydney network
• Managing better: Shift perspectives, Language in the workplace, environment counts
• Fascinating: Science of the Heart, Commission a requiem
• Fun: virtual bubble wrap, villain supply, MBTI dark side and Heroes and Villains at Theatresports®

Your Consulting
business

Beach cricket, Glenelg

Beach Volleyball, Glenelg

What colour are you wearing

What colours do you wear when meeting a client for the first time? When delivering good news or bad news? When networking? This may have an effect on your results. Check out this article on colours and their effect on mood

Understand PSI Tax

There have been some tax rulings about income splitting with spouses and independent contractors. Read about it on the Independent Contractors Australia site.

Then visit the Tax Office site and read about Personal Services income (PSI), which has been an issue since the introduction of GST. It sneaked in the same year... very quietly, but could be an issue for you if you have only one client in a year (or one client which is more than 80% of your income). The Couriers were up in arms about it, but no one else thinks it applies to them (but it does!!).

Here is someone who was audited by the Tax Office who cautions that the Tax Office applies the 80/20 rule on individuals (not on the entire company).

Networking in Sydney

Perhaps your business has been a little slower (and you're Sydney based), consider joining Sue Liu from Zulu Communications Power Plug-in Get-Real Networking event on March 28 2008. Sue describes it as An open discussion about challenges of self employment and being in business.

Managing better

I want to know why she's so spiky!

Boys on a wall

I'm published (again)

I wrote an article on creating workplace peace by shifting perspectives for Leadership Excellence back in November 07. I finally received my own paper copies of it so you can now read it in pdf, or the text version.

Language in the workplace - from an outside perspective

Speaking of perspectives, here's an anthropological/linguistic perspective on language in the workplace. It discusses the function of humour in the workplace, the language managers use to keep projects on track, and whether (or not) women and men speak differently. Good short summaries

Environment counts!

From the amazing Influence at Work article bank: If you are blue skying - you'll get better results in a high ceilinged room. If working on details, lower-ceilinged is better!

The war for values

Check out this article in Forbes Magazine which asserts that the issue in the workplace is not the "war for talent", but the war for values match (which means people fit into your culture).

When values don't match, managers find themselves in "right vs right" decisions (both right, just not always right for the culture in which they find themselves). It's a short article which may require you to register with Forbes (but that's free!).

Fascinating

Solo orange woman, Glenelg

Science of the Heart

Go check out this research which is looking at how the head and heart communicate (scientifically, not metaphorically). They say that they have data to show that when we experience positive feeling states, so the heart rhythms become "more coherent", the changed information flow from the heart to the brain may act to modify cortical function and influence performance. I'm not sure what that all means, but it sounds fascinating!

Commission a Requiem

Requiem for You create musical memorials for milestones in your life. Maybe you could commission a requiem for a funeral, a sonata for a new baby, an anthem for a new company? The idea is marvellous!!

And Fun, fun, fun

Picnic by the pier at Glenelg

And just for fun, try some bubble wrap

If you're stressed out, try some virtual bubble wrap (it feels so good!)

Heroes and Villains

Check out the dark side of the Myers-Briggs Typology Indicator - the 16 types have names like Scientologist, Evil Overlord, Cult Leader, Thought Police.

To compliment this, you could pop over to Scared Scriptless Heroes and Villains Theatresports® season. Two teams, one good, one evil, battle it out with you as the judge of who wins. So far it's one point good, one point evil. Cast your vote by being in the audience!

It's at the Clarence Hotel, Petersham cnr Crystal St and Parramatta Rd (in Sydney, Australia). Every Friday night from now till Christmas.

Doors open 7:30, show starts at 8. Drinks at pub prices, food available. There's a second show (The Late Show) at 10:30, so catch them both for $10 whenever you're near Petersham in Sydney.

Let me know what you like about this ezine - or anything you'd like to see more of!

C

Cindy Tonkin The Consultants’ Consultant
Certified Management Consultant

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This month's images are original works ©2008 Cindy Tonkin. See more here.

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