Have you ever been talking with someone and the words coming out of their mouth doesn’t match the message you are receiving.  A great example of this is sarcasm.

Sarcasm is one type of communication that sends a conflicting message but what about all the other types of conflicting messages?  The limp handshake, the furrowed brow, crossed arms or rolling eyes.  I am specifically speaking about body language and my friend and colleague Traci Brown, is a body language expert who wrote a must have tool (aka book) for cracking the code of body language; Body Language Confidential.

This book gives you examples and pictures that help you recognize the meaning behind the movements that you witness with your colleagues, clients, spouse, kids and even people who find themselves on the evening news (politicians, athletes, criminals and others).

If you want to be better at communication you have to be better at understanding what is being communicated to you.  Body Language Confidential one of the best tools to have in your tool kit!

To busy the book, Body Language Confidential, and to learn more about Traci Brown go to her website.

 

Last year I had the good fortune to meet Tamara Kleinberg, Serial Tinkerer at The Shuuk.  As VP of Programs for DTC CBW, I was interviewing her to speak at an upcoming meeting but found myself less focused on the interview and more so captivated by her innovative thinking and fun spirit.  She took curiosity to a whole new place and believe me, curiosity is job #1 of a coach.

After Tamara spoke at the DTC CBW meeting, I bought her book Think Sideways, a Game-Changing Playbook for Disruptive Thinking.  I started AND finished reading it over the weekend.  The book is truly a play book, like that of a football coach’s, where you can turn to learn the “plays” of innovative thinking and learn TO play in the world of innovation and imagination.

As a business coach I work with people to bring out their best for ultimate success.  Coaching is a process of co-creating and designing clients’ dreams into reality and the tools in this book not only are ones that my clients will use but that I will ultimately use in the co-creative process with them.

The back of the book states “This playbook is right for you if…

• your rebellious side gets frustrated by a play-it safe culture
• your inner entrepreneur keeps nudging you to break the rules
• something deep down feels the need to disrupt the status quo
• your desperately want to get out of the box that you are trapped in
• your right brain is exhausted and needs a push to get organized.”

I also feel that this book is right for you if you want to feel inspired and motivated to reconnect with that part of you that gets fired up and excited about living life, career, and business creatively and fully engaged!

You can learn more about Tamara Kleinberg and her programs at http://www.theshuuk.com

and purchase Think Sideways, a Game-Changing Playbook for Disruptive Thinking Sideways amazon.com.

A few years ago, a friend recommended the book Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott.  The recommendation was due to the challenging situation I was in with a supervisor but applied to all areas of my life.

I have never been one to successfully hide my feelings or opinions about something but having a “fierce conversation” is more than just speaking up, it is about speaking with intention and  effectiveness.  There are ways to have fierce conversations so that everyone feels heard, appreciated and respected, no matter what the outcome.

Fierce Conversations includes practical application shared via multiple stories.  The book includes reflections, assignments and refreshers so that the information can be fully integrated.  It is, what I like to call, a “coachy book”  and provides you with content and application you can really use.

Fierce Conversations can be purchased at amazon.com or your local book seller.

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron was first published in 1992 and it’s purpose and methods are timeless.  It is a guide to allowing your natural born creativity to flow.  I am currently going through this study because as a business coach, I am consistently creating new programs to better serve my clients.  Additionally I am huge proponent of allowing all sides of yourself be expressed – creative, logical, extroversion and introversion.

Here is a look at a few of the topics that The Artist’s Way covers…

• Sense of Identity
• Sense of Power
• Sense of Integrity
• Sense of Possibility
• Sense of Abundance
• Sense of Compassion
• Sense of Autonomy

The Artist’s Way is packed with tools, tasks and activities that support creativity, introspection and personal development.  It is proving to be a tool that I recommend to clients, friends and all those who recognize the value of creativity in their lives.

The book The Artist’s Way as well as a The Artist’s Way Starter Kit can be purchased at Amazon.com and other booksellers.

I started following Brendon Burchard just last year because I found him to be a no-nonsense guy who also truly comes from the heart.  He is captivating in his quest to help people be able to answer the questions…”Did I live? Did I love? Did I matter?”

This summer I received an initial-released copy of his book The Charge, Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive  and was absolutely amazed at how Brendon described that which creates a “charged” life.  Of course I was drawn to both the linear and factual aspects of The Five Baseline Drives and The Five Forward Drives that are described in his book as well as the stories and examples that ties all of the drives together.

This book is a MUST have and I will give you just a hint of what is covered to entice you to go out and pick one up for yourself…

Three of the 5 Baseline Drives

1. The Drive for Control
2. The Drive for Competence
3. The Drive for Congruence…

Three of the 5 Forward Drives

1. The Drive for Change
2. The Drive for Challenge
3. The Drive for Creative Expression…

Are you intrigued yet?? If not, you can watch the video about The Charge by clicking here.

I truly believe this is a book that should be on your shelf but also gifted to those who want to truly live the life of joy, purpose and fulfillment!

The Charge can be purchased at Amazon.com