Communication
Issue: July / August 2013

The Art of Interrupting Meetings

By - July 23, 2013

The key is to get yourself in the room explains Adam Fidler The first rule is that there are no rules. But, in the absence of a “rule”, then try and agree with your boss what he finds acceptable and non-acceptable in terms of interrupting a meeting. I am often surprised at the number of... Read more »
Profiles
Issue: July / August 2013

PROFILE – Marina Ivie

By - July 23, 2013

Marina Ivie is an Executive Assistant. At the early age of 14, her life was turned upside down during a freak accident that caused her to lose her leg. At the age of fourteen, I had very little to think about beyond where I was going that weekend, what to wear, or how to do... Read more »
Opinion
Issue: July / August 2013

A Modern Day in the Life of a PA

By - July 23, 2013

Over the many years we have focused on secretarial recruitment we have watched their role within businesses shift dramatically. Today, we are seeing two very distinct new directions evolving alongside the traditional PA requirement. “On the one hand we are seeing the growth of the PA as company “hub” within an increasingly virtual, mobile, self-sufficient... Read more »
Processes & Procedures
Issue: July / August 2013

Getting The Best Out Of A Venue – It’s All About Communication

By - July 23, 2013

You know that feeling when a successful event has finished – a mixture of relief, delight and probably a touch of fatigue? The feeling isn’t dissimilar for those behind the scenes at the venue – the execution of a brilliant event is tantamount for both venue and event organiser. And that two-way relationship is key.... Read more »
Health & Wellbeing
Issue: July / August 2013

Creating A Comfortable And Healthy Work Environment To Reduce Stress

By - July 23, 2013

Work-related stress can come from any physical conditions that we perceive as irritating, uncomfortable or unpleasant explains Carole Spiers
Technology
Issue: July / August 2013

Social Media – It’s A Hot Topic, Make Sure You Don’t Get Burnt

By - July 23, 2013

I’m going to start off this month’s column by talking to you about baking – not because I don’t want to talk to you about training, but because I think all becomes clear when you compare work to life. I’m taking you into the kitchen, where you’re baking gorgeous cupcakes and they’re all neat and... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: July / August 2013

Establishing Your Core Values

By - July 23, 2013

As we meander along our path in life we come across people who we get on well with and others who we don’t. We encounter organisations and groups that we resonate with – and others that we do not. “If we stop for a moment and consider what it is about the people, groups and... Read more »
Business Strategy & Acumen
Issue: July / August 2013

4 Steps to Building a Culture of Respect

By - July 23, 2013

Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners – Laurence Sterne “In surveys conducted by Weber Shandwick in 2011 it revealed what many already know or experience – incivility in the workplace is on the rise and many place the blame at the feet of workplace leadership. The online survey was... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: July / August 2013

Four Things you Will Never Learn in Your Comfort Zone

By - July 23, 2013

The year was 1947 and to date no one had broken the sound barrier. Most believed that it could not be done. Some argued that the sound barrier was a literal wall that once hit at 760 mph would destroy a plane. But despite the sceptics and critics there remained a committed group of people... Read more »
Communication
Issue: July / August 2013

Finding the Magic Words

By - July 23, 2013

After 25 years of working as the Personal /Executive Assistant to actress Olympia Dukakis, I know a few things for certain. One of those things is that issues of communication can make or break an assistant in our workplace. “Some of the best advice I have ever received regarding building successful relationships in the workplace... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: July / August 2013

Trust Cuts to the Quick

By - July 23, 2013

Do you feel the need to “watch your back” at work? How about your friends and family? What percentage of people do you think feel that they need to do so? Expand the experiences of your circle of contacts across the entire country and it would be interesting to discover how much time is wasted... Read more »
Technology
Issue: July / August 2013

The most essential Excel feature every assistant should use

By - July 23, 2013

As a former PA turned technology instructor, Vickie Sokol Evans has worked with every type of document, spreadsheet, presentation and database you can imagine over the past 25 years, and seen some major improvements in the technology since the dos-based version of Word. We have the capability to get more things done in less time,... Read more »
Technology
Issue: July / August 2013

Where Are YOU on Google?

By - July 23, 2013

Project Management
Issue: July / August 2013

Your Administrative Role in Disaster Recovery Planning

By - July 23, 2013

A hurricane is bearing down and your office has just received notice you have one hour to evacuate before flood waters sweep into the area. What do you do? Your office is damaged by fire and you’re forced to work from home for the next six weeks. Are you set up to do it? Have... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: July / August 2013

Feelgood Factor

By - July 23, 2013

Imagine your body being strong and flexible. You are hydrated. You feed and fuel your body well daily. You have energy all day, every day, and you sleep well each night. You don’t drag through the afternoons. You have energy available for those last-minute afternoon rush assignments. “Generally speaking, you feel great and can get... Read more »
Communication
Issue: July / August 2013

Three Ways to Become a Better Writer … No, It’s Not Hopeless

By - July 23, 2013

The Dershowitz dilemma An article in the July/Aug 2012 Yale Alumni Magazine listed some famous Yale graduates’ favourite classes and the stories behind them. “In one vignette, Alan Dershowitz, Yale ’62 LLB attorney, Harvard law professor and best-selling author, told a surprising (and very well-written) tale (The Class I’ll Never Forget): In his first-year Torts... Read more »