Leadership
Issue: January / February 2014

Leadership Lessons from Nelson Mandela’s Life

By - January 25, 2014

Two big leadership lessons can be drawn from observation of Nelson Mandela’s life and time in history The first lesson is that it takes more than a single heroic leader at the top to change the trajectory of an institution, or a nation. The second lesson is that in leadership, character is always more important... Read more »
Health & Wellbeing
Issue: January / February 2014

Wellbeing – How High is it on Your Agenda?

By - January 25, 2014

The more I develop the work I am doing around “wellbeing in the workplace” the more I realise that we truly do need to accept that like many things there really is no “one size fits all” approach to this. What one person thrives on will be the undoing of another and I am sceptical... Read more »
Career Development
Issue: January / February 2014

The Changing Face of Education

By - January 25, 2014

Natalie Lloyd navigates the maze of online education There’s no doubt about it, education is changing. Online education is becoming an increasingly popular option for learners worldwide, and it’s quite hard to decipher the excitement surrounding this migration to online. We thought we’d make it that bit simpler by delving into the world of online... Read more »
Project Management
Issue: January / February 2014

Meetings: A Little Trend Spotting

By - January 25, 2014

After a turbulent few years for the meetings and events industry, there is now a sense the economy has largely turned a corner and the outlook is stable, according to the recently released 2014 American Express Meetings & Events Global Meetings Forecast. Our global research examines Meetings & Events trends, and provides predictions on a... Read more »
Technology
Issue: January / February 2014

New Year New Office: Improve your Outlook for 2014

By - January 25, 2014

Each year, most of us start the New Year in the same fashion: looking back over the last few years, trying to focus our direction in life and writing those all-important resolutions. Yet how many of us actually put personal development on that list? How many of us look at the ways in which we... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: January / February 2014

The Role of Management Assistant in the Future

By - January 25, 2014

Summary of the Management Assistant 2020 research   Thanks to longevity and increasing globalization, employees in future organisations may consist of representatives of five different generations and (most probably) many different nationalities. Furthermore, ever developing technology has a huge impact on how we work and communicate with each other. The Management Assistant report sheds light... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: January / February 2014

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

By - January 25, 2014

‘If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants’ Isaac Newton The end of every year brings the promise of the new one. Before that happens though, my mind is always pulled to think about the year that was. As I travelled to more places than I ever have in... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: January / February 2014

Impressions from a Volunteer – Apia, Samoa

By - January 25, 2014

Charles and I have been living in Apia, Samoa since 18 November 2013. We are loaded with first impressions and at this stage we are really enjoying it. We know some harder times are coming as our decision has separated us from our family at Christmas time and we have missed the birth of our... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: January / February 2014

Accepting Feelings

By - January 25, 2014

In a recent article in this magazine, I pointed out that whenever we have a negative thought, we’re either wanting something that’s happened not to have happened or we’re wanting a situation that exists right now not to exist right now. In other words we’re wanting something to be “already” different. The only exception is... Read more »
resolution
Personal Development
Issue: January / February 2014

A Different Kind of Resolution

By - January 1, 2014

Happy New Year! So Christmas and New Year are over, leaving in their wake a trail of pesky resolutions. Let's change the focus suggests Jessica McGregor Johnson
Editor's Letters
Issue: November / December 2013

Changing Perceptions

By - November 27, 2013

Here at Executive Secretary, we are gearing up for a year that could change the world for Assistants. Did you know that 2014 is the International Year of the Secretary and that we have just been appointed as Global Brand Ambassador for this extraordinary event? It’s 30 years since the last one and it couldn’t... Read more »
Cover Story
Issue: November / December 2013

8 Rules of Networking Etiquette Every Administrative Professional Should Heed

By - November 26, 2013

Robert Hosking explores the social skills we all need
Leadership
Issue: November / December 2013

4 Distractions Every Leader Must Ignore

By - November 25, 2013

Happiness can only be found if you can free yourself of all other distractions – Saul Bellow There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at the time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The baseball teams were playing in the... Read more »
Profiles
Issue: November / December 2013

PROFILE – Dale Stafford

By - November 25, 2013

Dale Stafford is the Principal & Founder of The Principle Department Can we start with a little background information? My parents were both performers in Variety Theatre – my dad was the straight man in a comedy double act and my mum was an equilibrist and dancer – so I was that person you’ve heard... Read more »
Communication
Issue: November / December 2013

Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry

By - November 25, 2013

Lindsay Taylor explains how to work quickly and efficiently without getting tongue tied As a busy Assistant having to “think on your feet” is part and parcel of your role – you need to work quickly and efficiently without getting tongue-tied – in order to foster credibility and respect in your workplace. So, how do... Read more »
Events Excellence
Issue: November / December 2013

Finding the Perfect Venue for Your Event

By - November 25, 2013

How do you ensure that your next choice of venue is the right one for your event? asks Claire Derrick