Opinion
Issue: September / October 2013

Corporate Art and its Role

By - September 25, 2013

With hundreds, if not thousands, of companies building a personal gallery for the office, it seems businesses are becoming a modern day Medici to the art world. Banks, call centres and law firms are furnished with paintings nowadays, yet corporate art has become so much more than just a conversation starter at the water cooler.... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: September / October 2013

Five Ways to Lift Your Leader

By - September 25, 2013

“When you lift your leader you are growing as a leader” says Doug Dickerson. “In his book The 360° Leader, John Maxwell shares a story about President Harry S Truman speaking at the National War College. In the speech, Truman said, “You know, it’s easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2013

Perfekt Prufreeding

By - September 25, 2013

Proofreading is an art as well as a skill. Although there are some basic rules, personal preference can play a large part in making decisions about the accuracy of a document. Why is it important? Well, as for business writing skills in general, you want to give a good image of yourself and your organisation,... Read more »
Technology
Issue: September / October 2013

An Introduction to Instagram

By - September 25, 2013

Alicia Rittenhouse looks at how you can use Instagram within your business to build its brand. Social media and networking doesn’t have to be all about status updates and sharing links. After all – it is called social media. Think of how you can creatively engage with your friends and followers through images and video.... Read more »
Profiles
Issue: September / October 2013

PROFILE – Victoria Darragh

By - September 25, 2013

An award-winning EA in her own right as well as founder of the visionary and award-winning Hays PA Network, and the biggest conference currently in the UK, Executive Secretary went to find out what makes Victoria Darragh tick. Can we start with a little background information? Where are you from and what is your current... Read more »
Technology
Issue: September / October 2013

Email Security

By - September 25, 2013

Dr Monica Seeley’s top tips on creating and maintaining email security As an Assistant you are often privy to highly confidential information. Yet email is one of the easiest ways to leak information quite by accident. Five common ways to breach security and confidentiality through email are: 1 Sending an email to the wrong addressee... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2013

The Dreaded Acronym – Beware Confusion

By - September 25, 2013

Have you ever had one of those days when just about everything you touched or came to your attention was bigger, more complicated, more difficult than it, at first, appeared? Someone asks an innocent question or an email arrives and your first answer needs qualifying in some way and then that answer triggers another train... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: September / October 2013

In Cruise Control, Stalling or Coasting Out of Gear?

By - September 25, 2013

Being the driving force behind a business or individual, facing a multitude of responsibilities and adapting to situations to suit the needs of a business is a common element of most EA and PA roles. Yet no two people are the same… it’s a crazy thought when you really begin to dissect the characteristics of... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: September / October 2013

“50 Shades of EA”

By - September 25, 2013

“You don’t need to be a “Christian” to do a good job although it does help immensely to have faith and confidence in yourself and your abilities. Confidence can be seen through your body language so make sure you stand straight, hold your head high, shoulders back, take deep breaths, breathing slowly from your abdomen... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: September / October 2013

It’s about what we can give – Samoa

By - September 25, 2013

I have been having one of those “times in your life” and have been reflecting. From this process has come something for me to give. As a young child I lived in a remote community which functioned in many cases on what we all gave to each other. This need to give to each other... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2013

Phone Etiquette for Today’s Busy World

By - September 25, 2013

Have you ever been put on hold and then couldn’t remember who you called? Have you dialled someone and then had to stop and think about the reason you made the call? We are often so busy and wrapped up in our own work that we sometimes forget that a real human being is on... Read more »
Career Development
Issue: September / October 2013

Work/Life Balance and Managing Our 24 Hours

By - September 25, 2013

We all have the same amount of time to expend each and every day, so why does it seem like some people have mastered their time better than others? As Assistants I think we struggle with this quite a bit. No matter what we do, whether we work in the corporate world or manage our... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2013

Executive Assistants or Chief Communication Officers?

By - September 25, 2013

Aside from their vital role to the CEO, perhaps one of the most important roles any Executive Assistant plays is the portal for information to and from the CEO. It is in this capacity that they must be exceptionally effective communicators; and at a higher level than almost anyone else as communication is about understanding,... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2013

The Power of Praise

By - September 25, 2013

Praise can be a real energizer and motivator. Praise lifts people up, and helps them know what behaviors are appreciated and are desired to be repeated. William James wrote ‘The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated’. Just because praising others may sound easy, all praises may not all be equally... Read more »
Events Excellence
Issue: September / October 2013

Team Building – Getting it Right

By - September 25, 2013

Team building is something most of us will have been involved in, whether it’s organising the event or being invited along to partake. Most of us have preconceived ideas which come to mind when the words “team building” are mentioned but what fundamentally is team building all about? Essentially team building is a concept of... Read more »
Communication
Issue: September / October 2013

Are You a Conversation Stealer?

By - September 25, 2013

Mike: How was your weekend? Sue: Really nice. We went for a ride along the canal on our bikes. Mike: Really? I’ve been planning to do that for years! Every year I keep saying how I would love to do that. I probably haven’t been on my bike for three years. I’m really getting out... Read more »