The office environment breeds apathy for most people from time to time. In fact, an astonishing 84% of UK employees say they feel listless and lethargic at work during the winter. While driving yourself to meet agreed goals is motivation enough for some, there are two other major factors that contribute to your output: health […]

Setting boundaries in the workplace is one of the key issues faced by PAs today – you want to show your boss you’re flexible and ultimately indispensable, but where do you draw the line? The PA Life training day session conducted by the directors of website PA Access All Areas will outline appropriate methods of […]

As the spring and summer holiday season is right around the corner, here are some top tips to keep you in control while your manager is away for some much-needed rest Sometimes the boss being on holiday can actually help you get things done and do your job better. However, out of sight is rarely […]

Just as everything in the business world is constantly evolving, the role of management assistants has transformed significantly in recent years. New research has found that there are several key factors driving this change, not least of which is the recent recession. When firms were forced to cut costs in order to stay afloat, many […]

Modern work practices have dramatically changed the way many companies think about staffing needs. With technology advancing by the day and the internet available just about anywhere in the world, the ability to work remotely is being used more and more, as is evidenced by the growth in interest in the market for virtual assistants. […]

Another week has passed and that means it’s time for another round-up of all manner of weird and wonderful goings-on within the PA community. Romance seems to be in the air for Oscar-nominated actor Josh Brolin, who has been seen squiring his personal assistant around town. The town in question is Rome, where Josh is currently […]

London’s liveries are among the city’s oldest and grandest venues and provide a historic backdrop for corporate events. PA Life goes on a tour of some of these iconic properties How to get the most out of the city’s historic venuesThe most important thing is to start your search and book the venue early, as […]

It’s easy to find yourself worrying about what others think of you – your manager, clients and colleagues, even friends. But one opinion matters even more than these – yours We think about how others perceive us when we get ready in the morning, at meetings and interviews and in almost any social situation. Self-confidence […]

The British Medical Association (BMA) recently brought 16 members of the team from its London office to East Grinstead to have a practical, engaging experience with a Paella Fella team-building event and reported a very positive outcome. The BMA’s Head of Division, Sheridan Hammond comments: “The day was fantastic – great fun and it far […]

Due to the overwhelming response from PA Life readers to attend the Meeting of Minds networking event, host One Moorgate Place has had to limit the number of spaces available. Don’t hesitate to secure your place now. Taking place on 9 April, Meeting of Minds is the perfect opportunity to sip on bubbles, enjoy delicious […]

In these days of constant connectivity, social media and instant messaging, it’s all too easy to become distracted from the task in hand. Follow these handy hints to avoiding workplace interruptions – they’ll help you focus on your job and your souped-up efficiency is bound to impress your boss into the bargain. Try building a […]

Supporting a director and the logistics of managing their affairs requires a lot of attention. Janet Ashford and Paul Munden discuss the five things every assistant should know about their boss and the board What kind of leader is your director?Running a business in today’s complex corporate world requires strong leadership. There is a range […]

Just 10 months after its launch, the Bristol PA Network has experienced phenomenal growth and highlighted an appetite amongst PAs and support staff for training and development. The group recently announced a partnership with Bristol-based corporate event planning specialist Glow. With free membership and quarterly after-work events, the network fills the gap left by recession-led […]

We’ve come across a variety of timesaving technology tips, apps and devices which we thought we’d package together into one cut-out-and-keep page Prepare “ready responses”Answering the phone and dealing with email enquiries can take up a lot of time, especially when you’re dealing with the same thing more than once. Create a template in Microsoft […]

As businesses around the world are recovering from the financial crisis, roles that were eliminated to save money are now becoming the focus of an increase in recruitment. In New Zealand, it would appear that experienced executive assistants are back in demand and can expect an average pay rise of 7.8% as a result. Several […]

Networking is one of those buzz words that resonates within the PA community, but it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s an excellent reason to sign up to the Little Black Book coaching session presented by celebrity PA Donna Coulling at the PA Life Training Day. Donna will talk delegates through the […]

With a growing number of assistants deciding to set up on their own as VAs, working remotely from your boss is becoming increasingly common. Here are a few pointers to follow to make a long-distance professional relationship work. First off, remember there’s little about working face to face that you can’t replicate online or on […]

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 […]