Editor's Letters
Issue: September / October 2014

Coming Full Circle

By - September 27, 2014

Earlier in the month, I had the honour of presenting the keynote at PAFSA’s IYOTSA Conference in South Africa. As Global Brand Ambassador for International Year of the Secretary and Assistant, I have visited many countries this year, explaining to Assistants how the role has changed and encouraging them to think of themselves as strategic... Read more »
Cover Story
Issue: September / October 2014

Time Management or Behaviour Management?

By - September 26, 2014

With 86,400 seconds a day to negotiate, Joanne Barnfather navigates a path Time is precious. You cannot save time. You cannot put a couple hours away in a cupboard to use later when you need them. It seems that time is the greatest enemy of many people. Yet some people seem to get the job... Read more »
Events Excellence
Issue: September / October 2014

Not Another Meeting!

By - September 25, 2014

The other day I was sent an email with five attachments and it was suggested that these were all read prior to attending a forthcoming meeting.   So I arrived at the meeting, on time, and sat and waited for 15 minutes which made me annoyed. The meeting eventually started but no agenda had been... 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 »
Career Development
Issue: September / October 2014

No Risk, No Reward: 5 Insights for Creating Breakthrough Opportunities

By - September 25, 2014

If we constantly push ourselves to be a little better today than we were yesterday, we are often surprised by our own success explains Sandy Geroux
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 »
Health & Wellbeing
Issue: September / October 2014

Thrive – a Must Read

By - September 25, 2014

I recently read a new book by Arianna Huffington called Thrive and I got very excited. This book and her message is long overdue and one that anyone who works in the busy corporate world needs to read. In the book Arianna talks about how we have focused on just two things for happiness –... Read more »
Productivity
Issue: September / October 2014

Say No – Set Your Boundaries, Get More Done

By - September 25, 2014

Feel like you’re on a treadmill that will never stop? Too much to do? Too much to get done?   Just as the overlap between our work and our home lives has become blurred, and technology has connected us to people and tasks around the clock, we could all be working 24/7 and still feel... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: September / October 2014

8 Steps to Developing an Executive Presence and Getting Ahead

By - September 25, 2014

Robert Hosking details his top tips for developing an executive presence
Career Development
Issue: September / October 2014

It’s a Breeze, Isn’t It?

By - September 25, 2014

Congratulations, you have worked hard, your CV is impressive and you aced the interview so, as a result, you have landed your dream job. It’s all a breeze from here right? Well, maybe
   Those first days in a new job are the ones which linger in the mind. You’ve dressed with care for your... Read more »
Profiles
Issue: September / October 2014

PROFILE – Freda Kelly

By - September 25, 2014

Freda Kelly was just 17 when Brian Epstein offered her the job of secretary of the Fab Four’s fan club. She was an eye-witness to music history in the making.
Profiles
Issue: September / October 2014

PROFILE – Bonnie & Vickie: How Two Successful Women Choose to Collaborate, Not Compete

By - September 25, 2014

Photo credit: Vernon Jacobs Bonnie Low-Kramen and Vickie Sokol Evans: Authors, International Trainers & Inspiration to Assistants worldwide. Where are you both from and what are your current roles? Bonnie I was born and raised in New Jersey in the shadow of New York City. I grew up in Belleville, the home of the Jersey Boys... 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 »
Business Strategy & Acumen
Issue: September / October 2014

Introverts: A Goldmine for Your Business?

By - September 25, 2014

Lynda Shaw explains why the person who shouts loudest doesn’t always have the answers
Productivity
Issue: September / October 2014

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

By - September 25, 2014

Heather Baker details her top tips on the best ways to delegate
Personal Development
Issue: September / October 2014

Becoming More Powerful

By - September 25, 2014

If you’ve read my articles about “accepting what is”, determinist thinking, accepting feelings, owning our reactions and owning our experience, and you’ve put those ideas into practice, you’ve hopefully become a lot more resilient.   Resilience is an important aspect of life. It enables us to deal more easily with challenges and avoid becoming stressed.... Read more »