We all like to think of ourselves as people of influence, so if you want to be perceived as an authority figure in the workplace, then take on board these handy hints. Get to know other PAs in your organisation Very often management assistants are the ones who wield real power within a company, as […]

Admin professionals play a crucial role in ensuring a business runs smoothly, from sorting the post to booking travel. Efficiency is key when it comes to completing tasks, so there is a certain set of skills every PA needs. Become proficient in these and you?re sure to succeed. CommunicationInterpersonal skills are vital for management assistants, […]

From the convenience of a hotel room to the flexibility and space of a serviced apartment, we?ve got the needs of your travelling executives covered, as Molly Dyson discovers Hampton by Hilton Gatwick (pictured)Hampton by Hilton is a relatively new brand in the UK, with 14 hotels across the country offering good quality, affordable accommodation. […]

If you are PA to a consultant, you know that each new client comes with a new set of time-consuming challenges. The more your boss?s client list grows, the more tasks that gather on your desk as you deal with the day-to-day aspects of running his or her business while liaising with the new clients […]

If you?ve decided to become more environmentally friendly round the office, then it?s good timing as Avery?s Green Office Week runs until this Friday. The annual event encourages UK workers to think about the environment and implement small changes in the workplace. This year it?s all about listening and knowledge sharing with the creation of […]

An array of prestigious presenters will be on hand to impart their advice at PA Life’s next training day. Speakers at the event include well-known names on the circuit such as Angela Garry, who has worked in administrative roles since 1991 and runs her own training company, Pica Aurum; Heather Baker, meanwhile, had more than […]

The issue with cybersecurity is firstly how little people understand the risks they take online and the second is how little they appear to care, writes Simon Freeman. This is a toxic combination of cultural shortfalls that will see cyber crime grow to the point where we will either need to abandon the internet as […]

The power of influencing others is essential to success in all areas of business and important to the smooth and successful accomplishment of a PA’s duties. Influencing includes the ability to negotiate to reach agreement and to persuade others in our work environment to take the action that we feel is most suitable to the […]

The majority of your work as a PA will no doubt be done on a computer these days. While technology has evolved to make our lives simpler, there are still times when you need to utilise shortcuts to get a big job completed. If you, like some management assistants, are tasked with sending bulk emails […]

PA Life has previously looked at some ways in which it is possible to manage our modern technology to ensure that it improves our efficiency and productivity without causing unwanted interruption or becoming a distraction. But sometimes phones and computers become more than a distraction when we become over-dependent on our gadgets. The constant stimulation […]

Working with a new executive takes some getting used to at the best of times, but landing a job with one who has never had a PA before can be a tricky situation. Even if you’ve been an assistant for years, your boss won’t know how to use your skills to his advantage. It’s up […]

Continuing professional education is essential for all those who aspire to be top management assistants and that’s what makes training so vitally important. PA Life has put together an extremely strong programme for its next training day that includes a huge variety of sessions guaranteed to be of interest to ambitious EAs. The morning sessions […]

All too often, the training opportunities in a company are limited to a few days of induction. But the world of the PA is busy, demanding and fast-changing; you may sometimes need a boost, be it by building fresh confidence and enthusiasm, expanding your skill set, or gaining the latest technical updates. You may feel […]

PAs around the world are tasked with a plethora of different duties, some of which can border on things people in other roles would never be asked to do. Sometimes admin professionals receive requests from their bosses that cross the line into the bizarre, as three management assistants told the New York Post. An EA […]

The Meetings Show is now inviting PA Life readers to apply to attend as hosted buyers at the UK’s premier meetings industry event, taking place from 7-9 July at London’s Olympia. The dedicated PA education stream has been created by leading industry experts to provide all admin professionals with the specific education they need in […]

To achieve their purpose, your business letters need to be accurate, purposeful and appealing. The letters you send are the first impression someone gets of your company, the equivalent of that crucial five seconds when people first meet. Business letters have your employer’s company logo on them; they represent the company and as such should […]

Writing a CV is by no means unique to the PA profession and making it impressive utilises many of the same techniques as other occupations. However, there are some simple ways to tailor your CV to the role and boost your chances of landing your dream job. Office workers the world over will have a […]

PAs and EAs can hold the key to effective project management. Esther McMorris explains what you can be doing to ensure a project’s success and strengthen your position within the company in the process Executive assistants hold the key to sustainable project management, yet for every business that understands and supports your unique position, the […]