Communication
Issue: November / December 2011

Working Well With Different Work Styles

By - November 25, 2011

It happened again. You carefully crafted an e-mail, making sure none of its points could be misinterpreted. You even numbered the three items that required attention and indicated the exact date and time by which you needed a reply. Nonetheless, the response arrived a day late, and you didn’t receive a clear answer to your... Read more »
Business Strategy & Acumen
Issue: November / December 2011

Why Training Fails

By - November 25, 2011

Training develops skills, but skill alone does not allow an employee to succeed, explains Ann Latham
Career Development
Issue: November / December 2011

Virtually There

By - November 25, 2011

Carmen MacDougall on how to make the move from employed assistant to virtual assistant. The world of the assistant today is a far cry from when I started working at the tender age of 18 using a typewriter as my tool to carry out my secretarial duties. Now, we are living in a world where... Read more »
Opinion
Issue: November / December 2011

The Feedback Feature

By - November 25, 2011

We asked you ‘What is the best piece of advice you could give a boss? We asked you ‘What is the best piece of advice you could give a boss about how to work effectively with their assistant?’ Tammy Sanders, Greater Pittsburg, USA Talk to them! How can someone be efficient and support you effectively... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: November / December 2011

Stepping up … and giving others a helping hand

By - November 25, 2011

Claire Lister, Managing Director of Pitman Training, talks about taking charge of your own career development and training as well as that of others.   In previous articles, I’ve talked about how the role of top level secretaries and PAs has expanded to include many other elements such as finance, marketing and human resources. If... Read more »
Technology
Issue: November / December 2011

Social Media – the revolution

By - November 25, 2011

Is the world bearing witness to the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution? The Big Bang Over the last few years, the world as we knew it has been transformed. The way we live our day-to-day lives has been changed forever and the business environment has been revolutionized. Since 2009 the Internet has grown by... Read more »
Productivity
Issue: November / December 2011

Smart ways to manage e-mail chains

By - November 25, 2011

Dr Monica Seeley explains how to stop an e-mail chain from spiralling out of control   E-mail threads (chains) are the bane of many people’s lives. You know the symptoms: • Endless ‘Reply All’ e-mails about the same topic; • Ever-expanding lists of names in both the cc and To box; • The content but... Read more »
Communication
Issue: November / December 2011

Regional Focus: Russia

By - November 25, 2011

Executive Secretary asks an expert on the region to give his personal guide to doing business in Russia.   On the face of things Russia has changed. Political movement, government reforms, a stable economy, vast natural resources and a large population have all led to Russia becoming the R in BRIC (The big four: Brazil,... Read more »
Health & Wellbeing
Issue: November / December 2011

Practical tips to improve your posture

By - November 25, 2011

Personal assistants often suffer at work, both psychologically and physically. Stress, back pain, neck aches, tingling in the arms and hands are common symptoms among you.   ‘The risks of office work Let’s have a short glance at the scientific literature to understand why your body and mind ring the alarm bell. Three major hazards... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: November / December 2011

Practical Parenting

By - November 25, 2011

Reviewing your family work/life balance This morning, when dropping my 4-year old off for his pre-school session, we saw one of his friends in floods of tears, trying to drag his mum back towards her car. His mum was clearly upset by this, saying that her son goes there 4 and a half days a... Read more »
Productivity
Issue: November / December 2011

If You’re Thinking of Checking that Blackberry in a Meeting – Don’t!

By - November 25, 2011

We’ve all done it. The meeting is going on and on. Your boss is rambling. You “get” the gist of the concept. You’re bored. Your mind drifts. Hmmm. Wonder what newfound treasure has appeared in my PDA?   Who will notice if you sneak a peak? Your boss will. Others in the meeting will. Don’t... Read more »
Personal Development
Issue: November / December 2011

How to deal with an unpleasant boss

By - November 25, 2011

Your boss is criticising some work you’ve done when you know the problem lies with his/her instructions. You try to explain but he cuts you off. He provides no support or encouragement to his staff, employing criticism instead. He gets little support in return and responds by being harsh and dominating. He gets angry a... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: November / December 2011

How to Create a Managed Travel Programme

By - November 25, 2011

Many buyers of business travel fall into it by accident and, recently, this has included an increasing number of executive secretaries who have found themselves suddenly responsible for this complex purchasing function. If you are one of many new to buying business travel and don’t quite know where to start, this guide will explain what... Read more »
Leadership
Issue: November / December 2011

Five Questions Every Leader Must Ask About its Corporate Culture

By - November 25, 2011

“If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have told me ‘A faster horse”. -Henry Ford Analyzed by Main Street, the Better Business Bureau recently released their Top 10 list of the most complained about companies of 2010. As reported, consumers in the United States and Canada filed 1.1 million complaints against... Read more »
Communication
Issue: November / December 2011

Eye Patterns

By - November 25, 2011

Can they really tell me what someone is thinking? In the last article we covered modalities, what they meant and the different ways that people communicate and access information. How we can learn to recognise by the words and language patterns that individuals use to figure out the best way to effectively communicate with them.... Read more »
Communication
Issue: November / December 2011

Dealing with the Office Sniper

By - November 25, 2011

Dictionary.com defines a sniper as someone who: attacks a person or a person’s work with petulant or snide criticism, especially anonymously or from a safe distance. Have you ever worked with someone who made comments, filled with sarcasm or criticism, in public? It often happens during meetings or in public settings when you are restricted... Read more »