The ConsultingTools team would like to wish all of you a very happy holiday season. 

Once again, ConsultingTools has decided not to post Christmas cards to our customers this year. Instead, we would like to show our commitment and donate the money we have saved by not sending cards to two of our chosen charities which are The Meningitis Trust and the Cri Du Chat Syndrome Support Group. 

The Meningitis Trust’s vision is to work towards a world that is free from meningitis and where those affected by the disease receive quality care and support. Meningitis can strike in an instant but its impact can last a lifetime. 

For more information on The Meningitis Trust, click here.

We have also chosen to support the Cri Du Chat Syndrome Support Group. Cri Du Chat Syndrome is an abnormality resulting in the deletion of part of the short arm of chromosome 5. Sometimes, this syndrome is called "Cat Cry Syndrome" or "5p-". The support group aims to support families and fund research.

For more information on Cri Du Chat Syndrome Support Group, click here.

Why360° Feedback Doesn't Work & What to Do About It

ConsultingTools is holding an informative seminar on the topic of 360° feedback. This session is ideal for those currently using 360° feedback, or contemplating to use it. It will present current problems in using multi-rater interventions, provide practical answers and evidence-based solutions to ensure performance increase based on current research of uses of 360° feedback.

The event will be held on Thursday 24^th January in London and will be presented by Dr. Kenneth Nowack who has published extensively in the area of 360° feedback systems and presented internationally. Ken is a lecturer at the Anderson School of Management in Los Angeles, California.

To find out more about the seminar, click here.

ConsultingTools is offering a lucky winner the chance to attend the 360° feedback seminar for free. The first person to send us the names of Santa’s reindeers will win a place. Email us your answers quick!

Did you know..?  

Have you ever stopped to wonder how the most popular Christmas traditions started- why we kiss under the mistletoe, or give each other stockings full of goodies? 

Here are Top 10 festive facts to get you even more in the mood for Christmas: 

1. The tradition of putting tangerines in stockings comes from 12th-century French nuns who left socks full of fruit, nuts and tangerines at the houses of the poor.
2. The chances of a white Christmas are just 1 in 10 for England and Wales, and 1 in 6 for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
3. Before turkey, the traditional Christmas meal in England was a pig's head and mustard.
4. Many parts of the Christmas tree can actually be eaten, with the needles being a good source of Vitamin C.
5. Upside-down artificial Christmas trees are sold to allow more gifts to be piled under.
6. Christmas pudding was originally a soup made with raisins and wine.
7. Kissing under the mistletoe is thought to spring from Frigga, the Norse goddess of love, who was associated with the plant.
8. Hanging presents on trees may come from the Druids who believed the tree was the giver of all good things.
9. Santa has different names around the world - Kriss Kringle in Germany, Le Befana in Italy, Pere Noel in France and Deushka Moroz (Grandfather Frost) in Russia.
10. Boxing Day gets its name from all the money collected in church alms- boxes for the poor.

Just for Fun 

Have a minute or two to spare during your lunch break? Then, try your luck at this snow balling game. But be careful, it is highly addictive! Send us your score. The person with the highest score will receive a Christmas Hamper from ConsultingTools. Good luck! 

ConsultingTools Christmas Opening  

The ConsultingTools office will be closed from 5pm on Friday 21^st December and re-opening on Wednesday 2^nd January 2008. 

In the period the office is closed we will be continually monitoring our systems to ensure that all client projects continue to run smoothly.  We will also be making regular checks of emails and telephone calls to our offices.  

If you have any queries in the period when the office is shut please email us at bureau@consultingtools.com or leave a message on 0845 3700 237 and we will get back to you within 2 hours. 

We wish you all a very merry holiday season for you and your families and look forward to catching up in the New Year.