Cruising may be more commonly associated with the leisure sector, but these floating palaces can also work well when it comes to hosting business events. Colette Doyle finds it’s all plain sailing when she boards the Silver Wind Cruise ships have a reputation for glamour, but not all are created equal. As you board a […]

At PA Life we’re devoted to bringing you the very latest news, tips, advice and recommendations on a whole smorgasbord of topics that we hope are of interest to you in your professional lives. Since our most popular stories seem to be those that provide suggestions on how to engender a better working relationship with […]

The role of PA is evolving fast to include many new areas so consider adding key skills to your CV. By doing so, you increase your value to your company and potential employers, making all the difference to your career prospects. There’s no time like the present to think about training for new skills, but […]

If you want to enhance your relationship with your executive then you need to understand the basics of the PA-boss dynamic and learn what the non-negotiables are, as well as how to introduce these into your environment – even to a line manager who doesn’t like structure or routine. So says PA trainer practitioner Adam […]

Having proficient skills in Microsoft Office is key for PAs and EAs aspiring to reach the top of their profession. However, getting by on the basics is simply not enough any more. Here’s why superior abilities are so advantageous for administrative professionals. Increase your productivity Understanding advanced functions such as “vlookup”, macros and pivot tables […]

In today’s global business climate, personal assistants are often tasked with organising meetings with European clients. PA Life goes further afield to visit some of the continent’s best conference venues Hotel Arts Barcelona (pictured)Marina 19-21, 08005 Barcelona, Spainhotelartsbarcelona.comSpaces available: The hotel offers 3,500m2 of modern function space, equipped with state-of-the-art conference equipment. The venue’s outdoor […]

Music has a way of bringing out some of the strongest of human emotions, which is probably why Memphis the Musical places it at the forefront of race tension in 1950s Tennessee. The PA Life Club was kind enough to treat me and nearly 50 other members to a performance of the award-winning show at […]

The most successful PAs are able to deal with new people on all levels, manage events and talk to large groups with no apparent concerns. Although we call this confidence, what these impressive people actually have is high self-esteem; a firm belief in and respect for themselves and their abilities. Self-esteem is the opinions and […]

The digital era has made email and other forms of electronic communication an integral part of our daily lives at work. However, a recent survey conducted by office supply company Avery reveals that there’s still something to be said for the use of traditional “snail mail”. Birthdays, as you might expect, are the top occasions […]

Blending traditional British hospitality with an American bohemian attitude, Belgraves hotel expertly interprets the Thompson luxury experience in London. It joins an on-going creative movement in design, dining and art that is currently forging the “new Britannia”. Right now, Belgraves is offering private party and event packages from £65. Located in Central London’s affluent Belgravia […]

Clockwise Events is a well-established and experienced event management company based in the Midlands with more than 20 years’ experience. The firm strives to share its expertise to save you precious time during your working day and help you find the right venue for your next function. Plus, it offers rewards for busy PAs. Clockwise […]

LinkedIn was launched in 2003 and by the end of 2014 it had nearly 350 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories. Long considered the social networking site for professionals, if you’re in business, it is basically expected that you have a profile there. Being the largest network of professionals, LinkedIn has […]

Forgetful Brits are losing priceless data every year because they fail to back up their phones and computers, according to new research. One in five never backs up their home computers and more than a third never bothers to do so on their mobile phones. A quarter of the 1,000 UK adults who took part […]

PA Life Editor Colette Doyle interviewed representatives from the Association of Celebrity Assistants at last year’s Office show in order to get an in-depth look at the role of a high-profile PA. Molly Dyson reviews the key points of this revealing session PA Life Editor Colette Doyle began the interview by asking the participants, Deborah […]

Writing good minutes is an under-valued talent. Taking notes is a basic skill and anyone can scribble down a rough outline of a meeting, but to take good notes and create minutes that provide a comprehensive and accurate reflection of a meeting requires the use of thorough procedures and a few clever techniques. Whatever the […]

A little bit of soul-searching can work wonders for your career, according to celebrity PA Donna Coulling. Donna is one of the trainers at the next PA Life Training Day and she will be looking at how management assistants can bring their external ideas and interests to the workplace in order to enhance productivity. She […]

For most PAs, finding a specific industry in which you’re happy is not always a given. At the start of her career, Angie Williams managed to combine her knowledge of commerce and her skills as a shorthand typist to pave the way for a lifetime of interesting roles. Angie, who is the PA to Michael […]

There’s plenty to explore in the latest issue of PA Life, whether you’re looking for some ideas for your next event, or simply want to find out what’s happening in the world of admin professionals. The March/April issue features a bumper 26-page supplement packed with a huge variety of venues that are ideal for all […]