Personal Development
Issue: May / June 2013

Excellence Busters – The Four Beliefs That Will Hold You Back

By - May 25, 2013

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected. – Steve Jobs While you may be familiar with the many inventions of Thomas Edison which include the incandescent light bulb and the microphone, but there is a back story to one invention that is of great significance. It... Read more »
Events Excellence
Issue: May / June 2013

Arranging Sustainable Conferences and Meetings – a Beginner’s Guide

By - May 25, 2013

Going “green” is no longer an option – it’s a must! Adam Fidler gives us the lowdown on arranging sustainable conferences and meetings Most organisations today have a policy on sustainability, but for the Management Assistant, or conference organiser, being asked to arrange a sustainable event or “green” conference can add another strand to what... Read more »
Project Management
Issue: May / June 2013

PAs: the World’s Best Jugglers

By - May 25, 2013

The vast knowledge that can be sourced on the Internet tells me that the world’s best juggler can handle seven balls at a time, with 352 moves. A competition I’d like to see is him taking on my very own PA who seems to juggle well over 353 moves a day! I have always been... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: May / June 2013

Accountability is More Than a State of Mind

By - May 25, 2013

People may want to be leaders. However, not many want to accept the accountability that goes with it. But you cannot have one without the other as they are two sides of the same coin. “Last week, I was in a meeting with a client, the CEO of a London company who said to me:... Read more »
Communication
Issue: May / June 2013

Make Foreign Languages Work for You

By - May 25, 2013

America’s Foreign Language Deficit “, “Is Britain Falling Behind Due to a Lack of Language Skills ?”, “Foreign Language Skills Cost Scottish Businesses . This selection of recent headlines highlights the lack of foreign language skills in Anglophone businesses. With Frankfurt being touted as the up-and-coming financial centre in Europe, it is now essential that... Read more »
Technology
Issue: May / June 2013

IT Talk

By - May 25, 2013

How many times have you heard this reply when you call IT support “Hello IT support , Have you switched your PC on and off , is your PC plugged in?” or the worst when you don’t even reach a person and you have to listen to pan flute hits of the seventies . I... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: May / June 2013

Creating value-addition from Retiring Personnel

By - May 25, 2013

Many of you may look forward to your retirement with great enthusiasm. You can start to play golf, join a bridge group, travel the world or just stay in bed each morning until 10am. For those of you who can afford to do so, then your dream may well become reality. However, for others, retirement... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: May / June 2013

Your Mind Is Your Kingdom

By - May 23, 2013

Are you king or queen of your own mind? Lindsay Taylor thinks on The 16th Century English poet Francis Quarles famously stated “my mind is my kingdom”. If we take time to think about Quarles’ meaning, in essence we are creating a rich kingdom in our own minds and ironically substantiating his claim. Interpreting Quarles’... Read more »
Editor's Letters
Issue: March / April 2013

Let The Party Commence

By - March 23, 2013

Two years ago this week, I was feeling just as stressed as I am now. The reason? We were just about to launch an unproven concept that had taken months of hard work to put into place. I remember vividly, putting the first issue of Executive Secretary to bed at about 3am on the morning... Read more »
Cover Story
Issue: March / April 2013

7 Tips for Creating Effective Administrative Procedures

By - March 23, 2013

Julie Perrine on how to get organised Administrative procedures are a vital component of any efficient office. They’re an extremely valuable resource and creating them is a huge service to your executive and team. Not only do they allow others to easily cover for you during absences or vacations, they also act as a reference... Read more »
Career Development
Issue: March / April 2013

Great Expectations (Get it in Writing!)

By - March 23, 2013

It is crystal clear to me that many of the problems between employers and assistants in our workplace could be prevented by a clear set of written expectations. It surprises me to learn that many assistants begin Day #1 of their jobs without anything in writing regarding a job description or compensation package. This scenario... Read more »
Communication
Issue: January / February 2013

The Power of Listening

By - January 25, 2013

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. Winston Churchill The story is told of Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day,... Read more »
Cover Story
Issue: January / February 2013

Delegation, Delegation, Delegation!

By - January 23, 2013

Sue France explains how to persuade and influence your manager to pass work on No matter how much you enjoy your job, there will come a time when you need a new challenge and more responsibility. However, sometimes bosses are reluctant to delegate enough work to keep their assistants busy and free from boredom. Sometimes... Read more »
Profiles
Issue: January / February 2013

PROFILE – Olga Shumilova

By - January 23, 2013

Olga Shumilova is an Administrative Director in Moscow Can we start with a little background information? Where are you from? I am from Moscow, Russia. I was born here 26 years ago. What is your background? I graduated from Russian State University for the Humanities in 2008. My specialization was Orientalist (I specialized in China).... Read more »
Editor's Letters
Issue: November / December 2012

Resolutions

By - November 27, 2012

New Year is quite possibly the most positive, forward-looking holiday we celebrate. We say goodbye to the past and turn our attention to the good that the coming year promises. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions for positive change, such as quitting smoking, losing weight or pursuing a dream career. New Year’s Day brings... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: November / December 2012

Super Achievers – There’s nothing like a PA!

By - November 27, 2012

What makes a super PA? What does it take to really stand out? We look at five ways to prove to your employer you are worth a gold medal. With Olympic glory still very much in our minds, and our successes on this world stage bringing a strong glow of pride for us Brits, there’s... Read more »