So much to do, so little time! I often feel that there aren't enough hours in the day (like so many others). But do I really have so much to do? Someone recently pointed out that I, you and everyone else, have exactly the same amount of time, its one of life's great levellers, but some people manage to do so much more with it.

There are so many distractions today, and I know that I'm guitly of losing focus, or not knowing which of my many tasks to prioritise, so I flit from one thing to another. I'm a self-confessed 'Queen of Faff' sometimes! But, taking my own advice and Planning My Time does actually work....but then I begin to drift. It's not ALL about systems and tools - its also about attitude. There are Time Bandits out there, and this page by Debbie Stone of Fennel Solutions is well worth a read if you find that despite all of your best efforts, you're still not quite as productive as you might be.

...and if you find yourself being busy but not achieving very much, this excellent summary of a study into Focus and Energy by Bruch and Ghoshal, by Sheridan Webb at Keystone Development, is well worth a read. 

Our training session is all about managing the impact of change on individuals, so we like these tips on making change stick provided by Kate Mercer of the Leader's Lab, as they focus on what the organisation must do. Use these tips in conjunction with our key points, and you'll have a great chance of making change programmes work.

This short but to the point blog by The Latimer Group explains how if you don't prepare to communicate, you are wasting everyone's time (including your own). Indeed, effective communication only occurs when expression = impression. Successful communication requires BOTH parties to play their part.

Our short training session on Communication Skills explores why communication breaks down, and what we can do to make sure our communication is successful.

At Power Hour we love straightforward, practical training, so this article about helping managers to coach their team members really appeals to us. For a 60-second dose of development, you won't go far wrong with these Top Ten Tips, provided by Unlimited Potential.

Of course, if you want to train managers in basic coaching skills, our training session might be just the thing!

Sometimes it is hard to be motivated at work. So much to do, so little time, so few resources. But, if a manager isn't motivated, how on earth can they expect their team to be? In this great article, Guy Harris of the Lead Change Group gives 5 simple rules for motivating yourself. 

Our friend Gary Gorman bought this article to our attention, by Dr John McGurk of the CIPD  which discusses the importance of L&D in tough times, highlights the difficulties that many business face: How to keep training (and so retain) staff, with ever-decreasing budgets?