The Inner Game of Work by W. Timothy Gallwey.

The Inner Game series started when Gallwey became a tennis coach and found that people improved their game when they stopped trying to fix certain aspects of it, and started to trust their own capacity to learn from their experience.  He has since transferred this from tennis to other sports and to the business world.  He identified that the negative self-talk that goes on in people's heads got in the way of learning and performance, and often people appeared to set themselves up to fail by convincing themselves that they couldn't do something right.  When this self-fulfilling prophesy came true, it simply reinforced it  for the next time and the time after.  Gallwey calls this voice 'Self 1'.  The book goes on to explore how the real self, 'Self 2', can reassert itself through awareness of the current situation, making a choice about doing something, then having the trust in one's own inner resources to succeed.  Some good examples are offered to illustrate how this can work.

"Annie has a wonderful calm style of delivery and gently encourages active participation from her students. I have benefited enormously from her encouragement and direction. Thank you Annie!"

Pauline Parmeggiani
PA to Chief Executive
Connexions Cumbria

'The content of the course is diverse and delevered to a very high standard.  It has enabled me to find time to reflect on my working practices as a developing manager.  It has given me the confidence to use management tools, which ordinarily I wouldn't have access to.  I have shared many valuable experiences with other aspiring managers, and I have made friends.  What's next?'

Kris Brenan
Business Development Manager
Age Concern West Cumbria