Editor's Letters
Issue: May / June 2014

Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway

By - May 27, 2014

So here is the thing. Those of you that have seen me speak or met me in person will know that I have a pathological phobia of flying. It has been known to scare me so much that it has made me physically sick. Even the thought of flying sent me into apoplexy and heading... Read more »
Cover Story Leadership
Issue: May / June 2014

Meet the New Middle Manager: Today’s Administrative Professional

By - May 26, 2014

Judy Geller introduces the administrative professional of the future
Communication
Issue: May / June 2014

Interpersonal Skills Give You the Edge

By - May 25, 2014

Outstanding administrative professionals not only have excellent business skills but also excellent interpersonal skills. They realize that these skill sets are as important to their business success as appropriate excellence in the performance of any of their basic work duties. Daniel Goleman wrote the “bible” on interpersonal skills in his book, Emotional Intelligence – why... Read more »
Communication
Issue: May / June 2014

10 Tips to Help Admins Become Exceptional Public Speakers

By - May 25, 2014

You have a terrific idea for making an improvement to how your team manages projects. It will save a lot of time and eliminate a lot of unnecessary emails. You have to pitch the idea to the three project managers you work with daily, then you have to pitch it to your executive. Could you... Read more »
Communication
Issue: May / June 2014

An American in London by Bonnie Low-Kramen

By - May 25, 2014

My topic at Executive Secretary LIVE in London on March 29th was “The Elephant in the Room: Workplace Bullying.” Thanks to Lucy Brazier, the publisher of this ground-breaking magazine you are reading, it was the first time I have ever given an entire presentation on this topic. Workplace bullying has been a passion (okay, obsession)... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: May / June 2014

The Formula for Achieving Your Potential

By - May 25, 2014

We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down. – Kurt Vonnegut Unhappiness is the ultimate form of self indulgence. – Tom Robbins Last year I worked with a client who wanted clarity about her future, focusing particularly on her career. She saw her choices as “stay in... Read more »
Project Management
Issue: May / June 2014

How Effective are Your Meetings?

By - May 25, 2014

Meetings are an expensive use of resources. Use Richard Arnott's top tips to make your meetings more effective
Personal Development
Issue: May / June 2014

Are You an Email Addict?

By - May 25, 2014

When we think about addiction, the first things that usually come to people’s minds are things like drugs and alcohol, before we think of more benign things such as particular TV shows or chocolate. However, I’d like to challenge you to think about a somewhat insidious addiction of our modern age – addiction to email.... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: May / June 2014

How to Fulfil Your Dream of Being PA as Manager – Step into the Mind of a Leader

By - May 25, 2014

More and more PAs and Executive Assistants are being invited to take the role of Manager in some way. However, being a Manager requires you to be a “Leader” because your team are looking to you to be their guide. What qualities as a PA do you need to step into to be a leader?... Read more »
Profiles
Issue: May / June 2014

PROFILE – Leeanne Graham

By - May 25, 2014

Can we start with a little background information? Where are you from and what is your current role? So I am 29 and live in South East London. My dad was in the army so I was born in West Berlin and as a child lived in places such as North Ireland and Canterbury in... Read more »
Career Development
Issue: May / June 2014

Squirrel!

By - May 25, 2014

Imagine that it’s 7.15am on Monday morning, in the dead of winter. The phone rings and it’s a radio station calling to tell you that you’ve won an all-expenses-paid trip for two to a beautiful Caribbean island. The airplane leaves Wednesday morning. Would you be on that airplane? I assume you would. I know I... Read more »
Communication
Issue: May / June 2014

Breathing Tips and Exercises for Great Public Speaking

By - May 25, 2014

Tom Balmont shares 5 tips to help you master breathing during a presentation or speech
Leadership
Issue: May / June 2014

Job Descriptions for Assistants

By - May 25, 2014

An effective job description is a working document that can be enhanced and changed as you pick up new skills in the role, explains Nicky Christmas
Processes & Procedures
Issue: May / June 2014

No – Not as Bad as It Sounds

By - May 25, 2014

No! A simple two-letter word which can often be one of the hardest to say when it comes to our careers explains Claire Lister
Communication
Issue: May / June 2014

Assertiveness

By - May 25, 2014

Being assertive means showing emotional intelligence explains Heather Baker
Leadership
Issue: May / June 2014

Lessons in Personal Development From Nigel Kennedy

By - May 25, 2014

I met Nigel Kennedy at a concert celebrating the work of composers who filled his early years, from Bach to Fats Domino recently, featuring a simple four piece of virtuoso musicians from Poland. The concert was sublime, but as always, it’s the leadership skills of great people that interest me as a writer on such... Read more »