Editor's Letters
Issue: March / April 2011

New Beginnings

By - March 27, 2011

Spring always seems like a good time for some fresh thinking and I don’t know about you but the temptation to clear away the cobwebs is irresistible. It seems fitting, therefore, that after six months of research and discussion, we are relaunching Executive Secretary to you this March with a brand-new look for the modern... Read more »
Career Development Cover Story
Issue: March / April 2011

Virtually Anything is Possible

By - March 26, 2011

Jemima van Zyl explores the pros and cons of online learning
Communication
Issue: March / April 2011

The Keys of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)

By - March 25, 2011

Sue France details some of the tools that she has learnt about in her journey to become an NLP practitioner
Leadership
Issue: March / April 2011

Risk Is Like Fire – You’ll Be Safe But Cold Without It

By - March 25, 2011

Are risks threats or opportunities?   There is a simple but profound question I would like you to ask yourself: do you see risks as threats to be minimised or openings to be explored? Minimise or explore? How you answer this question is vital to your entire approach to your career and your life. We... Read more »
Communication
Issue: March / April 2011

The Quandary of Quotation Marks

By - March 25, 2011

Quotation marks are a beloved form of punctuation in the English language, used to indicate a verbatim report on what someone said, and used in a great deal of business writing. They are often misused. This article will explain some punctuation rules and clear up some misconceptions held by many about proper usage of quotation... Read more »
Communication
Issue: March / April 2011

Stress Resilience & the Power of Positive Acceptance

By - March 25, 2011

Your boss is hassling you. You have a presentation to give and no time to prepare. Your partner is threatening to leave because you spend too much time at work. In case these pressures aren’t enough, the one person you depend on for support at work has just gone off sick. If this was your... Read more »
Communication
Issue: March / April 2011

Regional Focus: The Middle East

By - March 25, 2011

Executive Secretary asked two experts on the region to give their personal guides to doing business in the Middle East. The Consultant’s View… The founder of Kwintessential, Neil Payne is currently the Managing Director of the company, overseeing global operations. He is also responsible for the management of cultural awareness training in Europe. The Middle... Read more »
Profiles
Issue: March / April 2011

PROFILE – Claire Lister

By - March 25, 2011

We caught up with Claire Lister, Pitman Training, to get the lowdown on her career and what she thinks the future for executive secretaries holds.
Leadership
Issue: March / April 2011

People are the Heart of Your Business

By - March 25, 2011

I am constantly surprised when people I talk to do not appear to know what Human Resources (HR) is there for. OK, I am biased. Having been in HR all my working life, I think it’s obvious, but many people, it seems, do not! A colleague recently mentioned that he had been talking to his... Read more »
Project Management
Issue: March / April 2011

Negotiation, Negotiation, Negotiation

By - March 25, 2011

Anthony Coyle-Dowling explains how to get the best out of negotiating for meetings or hotel space
Processes & Procedures
Issue: March / April 2011

Taking Minutes

By - March 25, 2011

Heather Baker lists the top skills you need to employ when taking minutes
Opinion
Issue: March / April 2011

International Women’s Day

By - March 25, 2011

Lucy Brazier asked: What advice would you pass on to the next generation of working women? Here are a selection of the responses:
Leadership
Issue: March / April 2011

Creating a Positive First Day for New Hires

By - March 25, 2011

Welcoming your new employees on their first day is all about recognizing how they might feel, explains Anja Schuetz
Communication
Issue: March / April 2011

Gatekeeping

By - March 25, 2011

Have you ever been accused of being a “gatekeeper”? asks Helen Achilleos.
Communication
Issue: March / April 2011

Passion

By - March 25, 2011

‘There I am, giving out leaflets on London Bridge and Liverpool Street stations for an evening event I’m running. I’m here for several morning and evening rush hours slap bang in the middle of London’s commercial and organisational mayhem. And… I’m gobsmacked! It’s like a DVD of George Orwell’s “1984” is playing out before my... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: March / April 2011

Corporate Strategy and the Elephant in the Room

By - March 25, 2011

‘What Holds Companies Back From Developing Great Strategies? Recession-weary executives have a new challenge to face. Times have changed and businesses must re-evaluate their pre-recession strategies. The elephant in the room is in full view, but organisational leaders do not like to talk about it or even think about it. Yes, the elephant in the... Read more »