Skills that empower PAs to delegate both upwards and downwards and that show assistants which steps to take to become strategic business partners to their bosses formed the basis of an interesting talk recently given by PA coach Lindsay Taylor of Your Excellency. This was one of the fascinating seminars at the Peterborough PA Network’s […]

No longer exclusively an accessory for fad-devoted celebrities, a personal coach can provide vital guidance in key areas of your professional life. Nicole Holgate takes a closer look. Maia is a new service that provides one-to-one professional coaching to help you progress in your career. It was created by executive service Coachmatch to provide a […]

The role of the PA has become “a bit like cloning your boss” and it is a function that is rapidly becoming more strategic and managerial. These were among the comments made by delegates attending the recent ExecSec Summit who took part in a series of video interviews conducted by PA Life Editor Colette Doyle. […]

It may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s an imperative part of day-to-day work that will help you excel in your current role. Vanessa Vallely offers insight into how PAs can manage their managers more effectively. 1. BE PREPARED If you are invited to join a meeting with your boss, always turn up fully prepared. […]

You may overlook the humble ream of paper as nothing more than a mere workplace staple, but those clever people at Conqueror have elevated this most basic of office accessories to haute couture. The paper was turned into a series of origami-style dresses created by up-and-coming British designer Joey Bevan, who was tasked with transforming […]

How on earth do you create the perfect event? New research hopes to help PAs by providing the answer to this taxing question. Looking at everything from what motivates someone to attend an event in the first place, to the importance of the venue and how much wine is ‘enough’, the survey aims to construct […]

If team-building conjures up images of raft building or orienteering in the middle of a windswept field, think again. Charlie Berry looks at the alternatives. A recent survey carried out by Vodafone UK and YouGov suggests workers feel that some old-fashioned team-building exercises can be a waste of time, and are toe-curlingly embarrassing. The research among […]

World-famous retailer Harrods is to open a mini-department store at Gatwick’s South Terminal, offering an impressive range of luxury fashion, jewellery and accessories. The vast, 557-metre2 store will offer Gatwick shoppers new brands and products, including Michael Kors, Monica Vinader, Love Moschino and Armani Jeans. The selection of luxury products has been carefully chosen and […]

There has been growing discussion in the corporate world about cloud services, from Google’s Docs to Microsoft’s Office 365. Warren Heath explains what choosing the cloud means for your business. Traditionally, companies have had their email, documents and communication facilities looked after by internal IT departments. This has usually meant dedicating members of staff to […]

Wherever you are in the UK, you can find an array of open-air event venues suitable for hosting a corporate celebration that makes the best of the British summertime. PA Life presents a selection from around the country. 41 PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON Type of outdoor space: A spacious roof terrace in central London adjoined by […]

Go for low-GI foods, lots of protein and don’t worry too much about fat, it’s actually good for you and far easier for the body to process than sugar or carbs. This was the advice on what makes the ideal lunch straight from the mouth of über-inventive, Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal when he spoke earlier […]

If you’ve been charged with helping to run your company’s social media activity, or want to make better use of it for your own networking purposes, you may want to turn to Twitter guru Deborah Lee. Deborah refers to herself as a ‘social media mentor’. She won’t take over a Twitter or Facebook account on […]

The conflicting beliefs of different generations are highlighted in the workplace, with younger employees not appreciating their older colleagues’ experience. In fact, many young people feel their careers may be “stifled” by the presence of late-retiring workers in the company. As a 21st century labour force must deal with a longer working life and smaller […]

Has your boss asked you to manage the appointments among attendees at an upcoming event? There is now a programme available to do just that. Digital event solutions provider GenieConnect recently announced the launch of MeetingsConnect, a multi-platform, intelligent meetings management programme. It is designed to be an efficient way to manage one-to-one meeting schedules […]

In the first of an occasional series of hotel reviews, Colette Doyle heads to Glasgow to vet what’s on offer for the business traveller. Glasgow came to prominence through its trading links with the West Indies and Americas, so the Merchant City is an appropriate name for its historic town centre. Taking pride of place […]

When it comes to productivity in the workplace, Victoria Burkinshaw explains how to get the most out of your working day. Working smarter, not harder, is an age-old adage. If you master the concept, your entire working life will be easier. Make simple changes to your daily routine and enjoy the benefits that will undoubtedly […]

Equipping PAs to succeed in today’s fast-changing workplace is the aim of a new part-time study programme being offered by Birkbeck University’s Department of Management from October this year. The programme aims to develop and enhance the skills and understanding of existing and aspiring PAs by exploring current management thinking, practices and technology. Programme director […]

Some of the most unusual requests that PAs have been asked to action when booking travel for their bosses include flying across the world to retrieve forgotten items, sourcing specific food and arranging honeymoons. These are just some of the responses to a survey on business travel recently conducted by PA Life in association with […]