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Personality Tests online:  

• Myers-Briggs (also known as Jung Typology) - One of the best-regarded personality tests out there. This website does not have a free version but does give a brief overview of the 16 types. See Keirsey Temperament below for a free version of the test.
• The Keirsey Temperament Sorter says it is the most widely used personality instrument in the world. It is a variation on Myers-Briggs and uses 70 questions that helps individuals discover their personality type within the Artisan, Guardian, Rational or Idealist roles.
• Belbin's Team Roles - Not as well known as some models but a favourite of mine and hugely helpful in team interactions. Are you a "Team Player" who wants everyone to be happy and feel heard, a "Completer-Finisher" or the more dynamic "Shaper" who wants to get going now? There are 9 team roles and this model helps team members understand how conflict occurs and value each other's strengths more ie. work better as a team.
• The Enneagram (descriptions) or go straight to The Enneagram Institute Tests. There are 9 types (are you an Investigator, Loyalist, Challenger?) and they claim many uses - including personally, in business, parenting and culturally - for more about these practical applications click here.
• Via Strengths Survey - Self proclaimed, "world's most scientifically validated tool for measuring character strengths." 240 questions to identify identify your top signature strengths which takes about 30 minutes. Initial report is free with an option to pay for a fuller report.
• True Colours - I haven't found a free version of this (yet), but True Colours is quite well known and used in business. Are you Orange, Gold, Green or Blue?
• Authentic Happiness - Martin Seligman's Positive Psychology. Lots of quizzes and tests to try out.
• The Mindgym - Lots of tools, tests and quizzes to get you and your clients thinking! Great for stress and time-management issues.
• Human Metrics - There are a number of free and cheap personality and relationship tests to be found here including Myers-Briggs (Jung Typology).

Websites of Well-Known Coaches and Spiritual Leaders:

To inspire, encourage and give you ideas!

• Martha Beck - Author of "Steering by Starlight" and "Finding Your Own North Star"
• Laura Berman Fortgang - Author of "Living Your Best Life" and "Take Yourself to the Top". Another early adopter of coaching - great insights on careers and life.
• Marianne Williamson - Author of many books related to women and empowerment. Famous for her oft-quoted poem "...It is not our darkness that most frightens us but our light..."
• Fiona Harrold - Author of "Be Your Own Life Coach" and more. A sassy woman and early UK adopter of coaching.
• Cheryl Richardson - Author of "Take Time For Your Life" and one of the early adopters of coaching.
• Barbara Sher - Wrote "Wishcraft" over 25 years ago and many more since. Her Sher Success Teams show you how to "get what you really want even if you have no goals, no character and you’re often in a lousy mood!"
• Byron Katie - It's all about "The Work" and her 4 questions. These give a simple look at how our thoughts impact how we see ourselves and the world.
• Jack Canfield, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul and self-proclaimed #1 Success Coach in North America

Executive, Career and Small Business Coaching:

• Geert-Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions - If you're interested in cultural differences (and similarities) this is an amazing man who has created five fascinating cultural dimensions by country including individualism 'v' collectivism and masculinity 'v' femininity.
• Michael E. Gerber - author of "The E-Myth" for Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs to make their businesses more efficient and run smoothly WITHOUT them...
• Brian Tracy - a one-man personal and business development success machine.
• We'd love some more suggestions for this section - please e-mail us at talyn(at)letitshine(dot)ca

Oldies but goodies include the Dale Carnegie website all about personal improvement, empowerment and getting results, the Nightingale Conent website that has been promoting authors and success-related products since 1961. Franklin Covey author of the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People and populariser of "The Urgent Important Matrix" is now hugely successful working with big organizations to build teams and effectiveness.

Major Coaching and Coach Training Organizations:

• CoachU - One of the biggest Coach Training organizations. Founded by Thomas Leonard. Has trained over 30,000 coaches worldwide including Canada, the UK, the US and Australia.
• The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) - Another big Coach Training organization. Has trained over 40,000 coaches, consultants and managers in 13 countries. Many resources and a Co-Active Coaching Network with meetings and forums for support.
• Erickson College - Over 10,000 'learners' in 14 countries. Various levels of training and can also study NLP with them.
• Results Coaching - has a more structured approach to it's coaching. Over 8000 trained coaches in 11 regions including the UK, Australia, the US and Hong Kong.
• The Coaching Academy (Europe). Has trained over 23,000 people in coaching skills. Various levels of training and lots of free weekend starter courses. Lots of resources and a helpful blog.
• Coachville - Basic membership is free. They have radio shows, courses, support groups and much more. Their mission to "improve the quality of coaching worldwide" and their purpose, "To provide a rich learning environment for ANYONE pursuing coaching mastery."
• The International Coach Federation - The ICF. Find a local chapter for coaching support and ongoing learning. Can attend meetings as a non-member to check it out before joining.
• The International Association of Coaches (IAC) - describes themselves as an "independent, global coach certifying body. Our mission is to inspire the on-going evolution and application of universal coaching standards." A possible alternative to the ICF.

Other and Miscellaneous Useful Websites:

• SelfGrowth.com - This is a great place to submit articles and find anything about Personal Growth on the Internet.
• Microsoft Royalty Free Clipart - Amazing amounts of QUALITY clipart, photos and animations for every presentation, exercise, poster or publication you could ever wish to create. This has been an amazing resource for me over the years (also Microsoft Templates here).
• TED - stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. Great for ideas - it started in 1984 as a conference to bring together these three worlds but now its scope is huge. Talks and performances by the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers (in 20 minutes!) are available to the public for free and can be freely shared and reposted. Great for a 'brown bag lunch' at your desk!
• Change This - A forum for mainfestos and ideas to be voted on and shared. If you're an upcoming author this is a great place to promote. If you're looking for topical ideas look no further.
• Birthday Alarm - I use this free service to send me emails of friend, family and client's birthdays. It sends me two reminders - one a week before (I use this for paper cards) and one the day before which I use for e-cards.
• A Mindfulness Bell - I use this when I have a busy day or a distracted mind. Supplied by a buddhist community in Washington, USAm Set the bell/s to ring every 15,30 or 60 mins as a reminder to stay on track and be mindful of time!
• Wikipedia - A user-supported and created online encyclopaedia. A good place to start your research whenever looking anything up online...
• Happy News - As it sounds. If you want some happy news, go here. Lots of heart-warming animal and charitable stories. A pleasant antidote to our fear-based news system.
• The Tao - English translation of The Tao. Available in sections. SImply amazing wisdom written over 2500 years ago by Lao Tzu. Go to for inspiration and a reminder of how ancient coaching wisdom truly is...

Films and Documentaries to make you think:

• Validation - A short movie (16 minutes) about the power of 'validation'. Funny and soulful, watch whenever you need a boost 
• The Corporation - If corporations were people they would be psychopaths... This film begs us to be more conscious and asks who controls our economy, our governments and our minds?
• Supersize me - The infamous film diary of a man who ate only McDonalds for a month and nearly died. You will be scandalised and amazed.
• Zeitgeist - A dark documentary that covers religion, money, poilitics and more. I was amazed by how far and wide geographically (and back in history) the bible stories go. Some may find this challenges their religious beliefs and others may simply consider this far-fetched and conspiracy-theory-gone-mad. Still it raises a lot of pertinent questions and got me thinking.
• What the Bleep do We Know? - Quantum physics made almost understandable. A scientific look at religion, emotions and possibilities you never imagined. I watch this again and again. How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?
• We'd love some more inspirational film suggestions for this section - please e-mail us at talyn(at)letitshine(dot)ca

Free Reports and Articles For You:

• This section coming soon.

Source of Free Resources: http://www.thecoachingtoolscompany.com  courtesy of Emma-Louise Elsey, a professionally certified life-coach and NLP practitioner.