This document is an introduction to an e-book on life and career skills published by Mind Tools Ltd. It was written by James Manktelow and copyrighted in 2003. The e-book contains nine modules covering topics such as creativity, decision making, time management, stress management, communication skills, and memory techniques. It is intended to help readers develop practical skills that were often overlooked in other resources.

1. The Mind Tools e-book www.mindtools.com
jáåÇ=qççäë==
mê~ÅíáÅ~ä=qÜáåâáåÖ=pâáääë=Ñçê=~å=bñÅÉääÉåí=iáÑÉ>=
This e-book is published by:
Mind Tools Ltd
Signal House
Station Rd
Burgess Hill
West Sussex
RH15 8DY
United Kingdom
Copyright © 2003-4 by James Manktelow
Version 1.20 – 12 April 2004
ISBN: 0-9545586-1-8
Please Note:
This Ebook contains a section on stress management. Stress can cause severe health problems and, in
extreme cases, can even cause death. While stress management techniques are conclusively shown to
have a positive effect on reducing stress, readers should take the advice of suitably qualified medical
professionals if they have any concerns over stress-related illnesses. Medical professionals should also
be consulted before changing diet or levels of exercise.
© James Manktelow, 2003 Page 1 of 192
All rights reserved. This course, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the
permission of the publisher.

2. The Mind Tools e-book www.mindtools.com
^Äçìí=íÜÉ=^ìíÜçêÁ=g~ãÉë=j~åâíÉäçï==
James Manktelow has developed Mind Tools since 1995.
The Mind Tools concept started with his research into the practical skills and techniques he needed to
progress his own career - he found it frustrating that so many simple, but important, life and career skills
were so little known and taught.
Mind Tools exists to help correct this. Since 1995, visitors have viewed more than 8 million Mind Tools
pages on the Mind Tools web site at www.mindtools.com. Many have been kind enough to send us very
positive testimonials on how the techniques we have helped to popularize have helped them in their daily
lives and their careers.
Outside his work with Mind Tools, James is a Director of UK financial software house, CQ Systems Ltd,
which produces Europe's leading leasing and loan systems. His career with CQ has spanned
marketing, business development, strategy, production and project management, business and systems
analysis, software development and consultancy. In this capacity, he has provided extensive consultancy
for major corporations in most European countries. Clients have included DaimlerChrysler, Bank of
Scotland, Ford and Capital One, among many others.
James gained his MBA at London Business School, specializing in entrepreneurship, finance and
strategy. He lives with his wife Rachel and son Alex in Wimbledon in London.
^ÅâåçïäÉÇÖÉãÉåíë=
I would like to thank the following people for their help and hard work on this project:
• Kellie Fowler of Write Solutions for editing this material
• Sarah Besley, for her work on permissions and administrative support
• Chris Howell, Milly O’Ryan, Steve Whitmore, Manda Knight and Laura Robbins of Real World Design
for their work on course design and graphics
• And my wife Rachel, for her help and professional advice during the writing of this e-book.
© James Manktelow, 2003 Page 2 of 192
All rights reserved. This course, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the
permission of the publisher.

3. The Mind Tools e-book www.mindtools.com
`çåíÉåíë=
Module 1........................................................................................................................................................ 7
Creativity Tools ............................................................................................................................................. 7
Reversal (1.1)................................................................................................................................. 10
SCAMPER (1.2) ............................................................................................................................. 10
Attribute Listing, Morphological Analysis & Matrix Analysis (1.3) .................................................. 11
Brainstorming (1.4)......................................................................................................................... 13
Random Input (1.5) ........................................................................................................................ 15
Concept Fan (1.6) .......................................................................................................................... 16
Reframing Matrix (1.7) ................................................................................................................... 20
Provocation (1.8)............................................................................................................................ 22
DO IT (1.9) ..................................................................................................................................... 23
Simplex (1.10) ................................................................................................................................ 26
Subconscious Problem Solving (1.11) ........................................................................................... 29
Module 2...................................................................................................................................................... 31
Tools for Understanding Complex Situations.............................................................................................. 31
Appreciation (2.1)........................................................................................................................... 32
Drill Down (2.2) .............................................................................................................................. 33
Cause & Effect Diagrams (2.3) ...................................................................................................... 35
System Diagrams (2.4) .................................................................................................................. 38
SWOT Analysis (2.5)...................................................................................................................... 47
Cash Flow Forecasting with Spreadsheets (2.6) ........................................................................... 49
Risk Analysis & Risk Management (2.7)........................................................................................ 52
Module 3...................................................................................................................................................... 55
Techniques for Effective Decision Making .................................................................................................. 55
Pareto Analysis (3.1)...................................................................................................................... 56
Paired Comparison Analysis (3.2) ................................................................................................. 58
Grid Analysis (3.3).......................................................................................................................... 60
Decision Tree Analysis (3.4) .......................................................................................................... 62
PMI (3.5) ........................................................................................................................................ 68
Force Field Analysis (3.6) .............................................................................................................. 70
Six Thinking Hats (3.7)................................................................................................................... 72
Cost/Benefit Analysis (3.8)............................................................................................................. 74
Module 4...................................................................................................................................................... 77
Project Planning Skills................................................................................................................................. 77
Estimating Time Accurately (4.1) ................................................................................................... 79
Scheduling Simple Projects (4.2)................................................................................................... 80
Gantt Charts (4.3) .......................................................................................................................... 81
Critical Path Analysis & PERT Charts (4.4) ................................................................................... 85
The Planning Cycle (4.5)................................................................................................................ 90
Planning Large Projects and Programs (4.6)................................................................................ 95
Stakeholder Management (4.7) ..................................................................................................... 96
© James Manktelow, 2003 Page 3 of 192
All rights reserved. This course, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the
permission of the publisher.

4. The Mind Tools e-book www.mindtools.com
Module 5.................................................................................................................................................... 103
Information & Study Skills ......................................................................................................................... 103
Concept Maps (5.1)...................................................................................................................... 105
SQ3R (5.2) ................................................................................................................................... 107
Speed Reading (5.3) .................................................................................................................... 109
Reading Strategies (5.4) .............................................................................................................. 110
Reviewing Learned Information (5.5)........................................................................................... 113
Module 6.................................................................................................................................................... 115
Memory Techniques.................................................................................................................................. 115
The Link Method & Story Method (6.1.1) ..................................................................................... 118
The Number/Rhyme Mnemonic (6.1.2)........................................................................................ 119
The Number/Shape Mnemonic (6.1.3)......................................................................................... 121
The Alphabet Technique (6.1.4) .................................................................................................. 122
The Journey System (6.1.5)......................................................................................................... 124
The Roman Room Mnemonic (6.1.6)........................................................................................... 126
The Major System (6.1.7)............................................................................................................. 127
Using Concept Maps as Memory Aids (6.1.8) ............................................................................. 130
Aide Memoires (6.1.9).................................................................................................................. 130
Learning a Foreign Language (6.3.1) .......................................................................................... 132
Using Mnemonics In Exams (6.3.2) ............................................................................................. 134
How to Remember Names (6.3.3) ............................................................................................... 135
Remembering Lists of Information (6.3.4).................................................................................... 135
Remembering Playing Cards! (6.3.6)........................................................................................... 137
Module 7.................................................................................................................................................... 138
How to Use Time Effectively - Time Management Skills .......................................................................... 138
Costing your time (7.1)................................................................................................................. 139
Deciding Your Work Priorities (7.2).............................................................................................. 140
Activity Logs (7.3)......................................................................................................................... 141
Action Plans (7.4)......................................................................................................................... 142
Prioritized To Do Lists (7.5) ......................................................................................................... 143
Personal Goal Setting (7.6).......................................................................................................... 144
Techniques for Controlling Stress............................................................................................................. 148
Stress Diaries (8.1) ...................................................................................................................... 151
Job Analysis, Short-Form (8.2) .................................................................................................... 154
Performance Planning (8.3) ......................................................................................................... 156
Imagery (8.4)................................................................................................................................ 158
Physical Relaxation Techniques (8.5).......................................................................................... 159
Thought Awareness, Rational Thinking and Positive Thinking (8.6) ........................................... 161
Rest, Relaxation and Sleep (8.7) ................................................................................................. 165
Burnout Self-Test - Checking Yourself for Burnout...................................................................... 166
© James Manktelow, 2003 Page 4 of 192
All rights reserved. This course, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the
permission of the publisher.

5. The Mind Tools e-book www.mindtools.com
Module 9.................................................................................................................................................... 169
Communication Skills................................................................................................................................ 169
Communicating In Your Organization (9.1).................................................................................. 172
Spoken Communications (9.2)..................................................................................................... 174
Written Communications (9.3) ..................................................................................................... 175
Communicating By Email (9.4) .................................................................................................... 177
Running Effective Meetings (9.5)................................................................................................. 178
Win-Win Negotiation (9.6) ............................................................................................................ 179
Speaking to an Audience (9.7)..................................................................................................... 181
Presentation Planning Checklist (9.8).......................................................................................... 184
Communicating Internationally (9.9) ............................................................................................ 185
Moving On… ............................................................................................................................................. 186
Further Reading ........................................................................................................................................ 187
Index.......................................................................................................................................................... 189
© James Manktelow, 2003 Page 5 of 192
All rights reserved. This course, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the
permission of the publisher.