Communication
Issue: March / April 2015

The Powerful Duo of Listening and Empathising

By - March 25, 2015

Lindsay Taylor details the two skills that combine to create a formidable approach
Communication
Issue: March / April 2015

Managing Your Boss

By - March 25, 2015

Time and time again I hear from PAs how they struggle to find a way to work with their executives. With the constant demands and complexities of your role, the last thing you need is a resistant executive, who slows you down, and obstructs your ability to assist and work with them to the best... Read more »
Communication
Issue: January / February 2015

Creating Powerful Partnerships

By - January 25, 2015

Trust is the foundation of all powerful - and successful - partnerships says Peggy Vasquez
Communication
Issue: January / February 2015

Winning Beginnings – Opening Your Speech With Impact

By - January 25, 2015

Lyn Roseaman shares her tops tips on opening your speech when speaking in public
Communication
Issue: January / February 2015

Tune In to Tone

By - January 25, 2015

I recently watched the sad news of another high school shooting in the US. The news reporter was emitting a tone of horror, sadness and sympathy when she interviewed a student witness. However, the student answered in a very objective, flat, almost disinterested, tone. The difference in the tone the student used and the tone... Read more »
Communication
Issue: November / December 2014

Turning Around a Soured Relation With the Boss

By - November 25, 2014

“I really dislike my new boss!” Mena told me in her office the other day. So, what should you do if you really don’t get on with your immediate manager? One option might be to ask for a transfer to another department, but that is not always possible and, in any event, you could lose... Read more »
Communication
Issue: November / December 2014

5 Sins That Will Send an Audience to Sleep

By - November 25, 2014

Richard Edwards details his surefire ways to pep up any talk or boring presentation We’ve all been there – politely sitting through a number of presentations mentally compiling shopping lists or daydreaming about the summer holidays instead of actually listening. The topic sounded interesting, and the content is probably useful, but the presentation itself seems... Read more »
Communication
Issue: November / December 2014

Samoa – the End of an Adventure!

By - November 25, 2014

My reactions were confused: one minute it is “I can’t believe it is all over” the next it is “Let’s get this done and dusted, I want to go home!” It was so confusing to feel this way but it indicates to a large extent how my time here in Samoa has been. It has... Read more »
Communication
Issue: November / December 2014

A Quarky Way to Motivate Your Team

By - November 24, 2014

Quantum physics tells us that we are simply huge clouds of atoms that interact with each other on a physical and personal level. I believe that by understanding “quarkiness” we can ensure we have a motivated team. Quarks are incredibly small sub-subatomic particles; quarkiness concerns small, usually unintentional, sub-subconscious behaviours, mostly negative, which cumulatively have a corrosive effect... Read more »
Communication
Issue: November / December 2014

The Transformative Power of a Shared Vision

By - November 24, 2014

In Britain recently they were on a knife’s edge waiting to see if the people of Scotland would decide in favour of independence from the UK. This referendum was critically important for both sides because a “Yes” result would have had major political and economic consequences reverberating across not just Europe, but the world. However,... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2014

Three Office Dragons and Weapons to Slay Them

By - September 25, 2014

Dragons are huge, dominating, fictitious creatures. Medieval writers had vivid imaginations for big, scary things. For many people, work is like a dragon. It can be overwhelming and certainly dominates well over half of our waking hours. Sometimes the people we work with can be pretty “fiery” creatures to deal with, too. In dragon-fighting, the... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2014

A Lesson From “The Horse Whisperer”

By - September 25, 2014

Have you ever tried “Horse Whispering”? Now, I’m not talking whispering sweet nothings in big hairy ears, but the Monty Roberts-style of gently influencing horses to calmly follow your lead. Well, a couple of years ago I had the chance to try this for a day. I don’t have a horsey background, but have seen... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2014

KNOCK, KNOCK

By - September 25, 2014

Knock, knock! Who’s there? Interrupting cow. Interrupting cow wh—MOOOOO! [Please pause for this interruption] I admit I have a very bad habit that is incredibly annoying. OK, so I have many annoying habits. But today I’ll talk about just one: I cut people off when they’re speaking. I don’t intend to be rude; I just... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2014

Manners in the Workplace

By - September 25, 2014

Simple manners in the workplace are not always noticed but bad manners certainly are. To get ahead and stay ahead simple courtesy can make you stand out.   I remember a case where a candidate, while waiting in the lobby for an interview, saw a woman struggling to get through the door with a pushchair... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2014

Samoa – Not Everything Goes to Plan

By - September 25, 2014

Things became very challenging for us in Samoa, mainly on the health front. I unfortunately got sick again in July which led this time to my doctor in Samoa saying “That’s it; I want you to go home and get well.” I said I was going home, in about two weeks. She said “No, that... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2014

Speak Up and Stand Out

By - September 25, 2014

Finding your voice can often be one of the hardest things to accomplish during your life, let alone your career. It becomes evident as we mature, that being listened to is very different to being heard. Being heard is about how you communicate, how confident and assertive you need to be to deliver your message,... Read more »