Profiles
Issue: July / August 2011

PROFILE – Nadia Head

By - July 25, 2011

Nadia Head is PA to the Director of Counter Terrorism and Specialist Crime You started out as a Microbiologist based in Switzerland. That’s quite a leap. What made you decide to change careers? My time in Switzerland was idyllic with a flat on the edge of Lake Geneva and a five-minute walk to the laboratory.... Read more »
Processes & Procedures
Issue: July / August 2011

Organising your desk

By - July 25, 2011

We asked you for your favourite tip for keeping your workspace organised Helen Maxwell (United Kingdom) My very best top tip is to leave your desk in a state for another secretary to take over. Then you really do organise desk and to paraphrase a Peanuts and Snoopy observation, “… the top of my desk... Read more »
Project Management
Issue: July / August 2011

Managing Your Own Day

By - July 25, 2011

Effective Time Management For The Busy PA – A Sure Sign That You’re Winning. How well we manage our time is a crucial factor in the control we exert over our own lives. How well we manage our time is a crucial factor in the control we exert over our own lives. You can interpret... Read more »
Communication
Issue: July / August 2011

Make Your Languages Work for you

By - July 25, 2011

Tanya Ireland explains how being bilingual can help you get ahead It is well-acknowledged that one of the best ways to get ahead in your career and broaden your horizons is to learn a foreign language. Whether companies are conducting business overseas or fighting for a larger market share at home, employers are increasingly seeking... Read more »
Communication
Issue: July / August 2011

Lead Systems – VAKOG

By - July 25, 2011

V A K O G is an abbreviation a I’d like you to remember as it could be the formula for the most exciting changes you can make in your life, improving your ability to communicate and be communicated with effectively! It stands for visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, gustatory. I’ll help you make more sense... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: July / August 2011

How to Make Better Decisions Faster

By - July 25, 2011

Spend a few moments learning Ann Latham's decision-making process and make better decisions faster
Personal Development
Issue: July / August 2011

How To Boost Your Career Willpower

By - July 25, 2011

Graham W Price details the tools you need to change focus You know what you need to do to take your career forward but despite your best intentions you’re just not doing it. We make excuses, such as lack of time or other things getting in the way, but really it’s about us lacking the... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: July / August 2011

Help From The Trenches: Where Great Ideas Are Born

By - July 25, 2011

In his book, Rules of Thumb, Alan M. Webber shares a story about the most unlikely place for where your best ideas come. In an illustaration, he references what took place at Xerox, when the company was faced with an economic downturn and preparing to lay off a bunch of tech reps. Xerox knew it... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: July / August 2011

Experiencing the ‘Culture Shock’ of Family Life

By - July 25, 2011

After a working week, family life can be a culture shock explains Helen Letchfield 30th May-5th June was National Family Week in the UK, which is all about taking time out to celebrate quality family time together. However, many parents can find it difficult to do this when they still have to find the elusive... Read more »
Communication
Issue: July / August 2011

Email Etiquette? Not an Option

By - July 25, 2011

There’s a lot of talk about email etiquette. Do businesses need to promote it for their employees? Why is it so important to follow email etiquette guidelines? What are the best rules and practices to follow? First of all, businesses will benefit from promoting proper email etiquette for three great reasons: Protection from liability. Here’s... Read more »
Opinion
Issue: July / August 2011

Careering Ahead

By - July 25, 2011

Amanda Perry had sporadic success returning to work as an administrator after a 20 year career break. Here, she explains how the difficulties she encountered have shaped her very successful career as an interview consultant When I returned to secretarial college following my career break, I found that things had changed significantly. Back when I... Read more »
Career Development
Issue: July / August 2011

Bring a Touch of Showbusiness Into Your Next Interview

By - July 25, 2011

Nicky Pattinson specialises in ‘show business selling’ and regularly works with Pitman Training at conferences and events. Here she gives us her thoughts on making the right impression in an interview, so that what you put on paper matches what you offer from the first second you meet your potential new employer. Your preparation starts... Read more »
Health & Wellbeing
Issue: July / August 2011

Balancing Your Professional And Private Lives

By - July 25, 2011

Do you, like me, wonder where all that free time has gone? asks Florence Parot
Processes & Procedures
Issue: July / August 2011

An Introduction to Project Management

By - July 25, 2011

The purpose of this article is to provide an understanding of project management, and a brief overview of the methodology that underpins most formally run projects. Many organisations do not employ full time Project Managers and it is common to pull together a project team to address a specific need. While most people are not... Read more »
Career Development
Issue: July / August 2011

3 Reasons Not To Copy Your CV Summary

By - July 25, 2011

Many people on LinkedIn make the mistake of copying their resume summary statements into their LinkedIn Summary section.   There are three major problems with this strategy: 1. Trite Phrases Often your CV summary is laden with overused phrases like ‘results-oriented team player with a proven track record’ or ‘dynamic, motivated self-starter with extensive experience’.... Read more »
Editor's Letters
Issue: May / June 2011

Mayday, Mayday

By - May 27, 2011

Sometimes it is not easy to see the bigger picture. My inbox is full of emails from those of you that have been made redundant and trying to find a job for quite some time. Most of you are highly experienced in your roles and are finding the reality of being unemployed hugely stressful. Some... Read more »