Technology
Issue: May / June 2012

An Introduction to Visio

By - May 25, 2012

Executives want information that’s meaningful, clear, and concise, which is why diagrams of all kinds are a staple of the business world. Charts, graphs, plans, and other types of diagrams can convey information succinctly, but not all diagrams are created equal. That’s where Microsoft Visio can help. Visio makes it easy to create, edit and... Read more »
Communication
Issue: May / June 2012

Regional Focus: South Africa – The Rainbow Nation

By - May 25, 2012

Executive Secretary asked three experts on the region to give their personal guides to doing business in South Africa. 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. South Africa is... Read more »
Opinion
Issue: May / June 2012

I Am So Organised Because Of A Bump In The Road

By - May 25, 2012

One Assistant wonders why all has gone quiet on the office front. “Well, that’s another job done”, I think to myself with some satisfaction. It has been ages since I had time to sort out the hard files and archive older files. Electronically, my files are all organised so I can always find documents. Anything... Read more »
Technology
Issue: May / June 2012

The New Scourge of Cyberbullying

By - May 25, 2012

An insidious new wave of bullying has arrived, and it is important to be able to identify it, explains Carole Spiers
Technology
Issue: May / June 2012

An Introduction to Blogging

By - May 25, 2012

Understanding what a blog is and how to set one up “What is a blog? The word ‘blog’ is shortened from its full title ‘weblog’ and a blog is just that, a ‘web’ ‘log’. A log, journal or collection of articles on any topic. What is a business blog? A business blog is an ongoing... Read more »
Health & Wellbeing
Issue: May / June 2012

Time for a Health Check?

By - May 25, 2012

Angela Garry discusses the importance of listening to ourselves and taking time to check our own health
Leadership
Issue: May / June 2012

Why Appreciation Matters

By - May 25, 2012

Showing appreciation has the power to build morale and boost performance explains Doug Dickerson
Editor's Letters
Issue: March / April 2012

Birthday Greetings

By - March 27, 2012

Back in March 2011 we re-launched Executive Secretary. Prior to this it had been in existence for about 16 years in various guises, but in March, we were reborn. And it really was like a birth, painful, at times uncomfortable and a lot of hard work but well worth the wait in the end. Birthdays... Read more »
Cover Story Leadership
Issue: March / April 2012

The Ninety-Five Percenters: Women in the Workplace

By - March 26, 2012

Bonnie Low-Kramen on the many things that hold women back There are many things holding women back at work, but something can be done ā€“ itā€™s just up to us. In March 2008, I wrote an article called How to Stand Up For Yourself Without Losing Your Job, which dealt with the topic of respect,... Read more »
Project Management
Issue: March / April 2012

Working with an unusual venue

By - March 25, 2012

A unique meeting venue is hot on every organiserā€™s wish list ā€“ but there are several things that need to be considered to ensure itā€™s the perfect fit. Words like ā€˜one-offā€™, ā€˜uniqueā€™, and ā€˜unusualā€™ in a venue description are bound to get the typical meeting plannerā€™s heart racing, for they promise the memorability, individuality and... Read more »
Project Management
Issue: March / April 2012

Where did daily planning go?

By - March 25, 2012

Before the advent of e-mail and smart phones and nearly constant electronic interruptions, daily planning was a strategy that was used quite effectively in the business community. Not so much, anymore! Oh yes, we still make the attempt to set our daily plan, but I am willing to bet that for a lot of you... Read more »
Health & Wellbeing
Issue: March / April 2012

Sleeping better

By - March 25, 2012

Sleep is essential to functioning correctly in your busy waking world ā€“ here we explore some ways you can make the most of the twilight hours. Difficulties sleeping? Tossing and turning? Do you feel anxiety or have ideas going round in circles and preventing you from sleeping? Finding it hard to concentrate on work the... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: March / April 2012

Self-belief: The Key to Success

By - March 25, 2012

“If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” Sam Walton Self-confidence is one of the most important qualities to have in every aspect of our lives. Whether this is in a personal context or a professional one, belief in oneself is often the difference between success and failure. Yet so many people... Read more »
Health & Wellbeing
Issue: March / April 2012

Say Goodbye to Stress Forever

By - March 25, 2012

Stress has become a major issue for both employers and staff. Techniques to deal with stress are now being taught within organisations. Books on the subject abound. Everything from time management, to relaxation, to exercise, is taught in the name of stress reduction. But, although these tools can be useful, they are largely missing the... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: March / April 2012

Roll with the punches or get punched: Dealing with workplace disappointment

By - March 25, 2012

We all suffer disappointment at work, but itā€™s how you cope that really matters. Didnā€™t get the promotion you wanted? Received an unfavorable performance review? These are examples of situations that would cause the ā€˜emotional Molotov cocktailā€™ to start brewing. You are filled with anger, resentment and disappointment, and thatā€™s just to name a few.... Read more »
Communication
Issue: March / April 2012

Regional Focus: China

By - March 25, 2012

Executive Secretary asked three experts on the region to give their personal guides to doing business in China. The Consultantā€™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. China has been on... Read more »