PA Life is pleased to announce the winners of its recent competition run in conjunction with ACC Aviation: they are Becky Owen from Vodafone, Helen Miller from Citi and Nafiseh Bakhshian from Universal McCann Worldwide. These three PAs recently enjoyed an aerial sightseeing tour of London’s most iconic landmarks during a helicopter flight provided by […]

It seems that PAs across the pond are working harder than ever, as an annual US survey has highlighted the growing workload of administrative professionals. The findings, compiled by stationery retailer Staples, reveal that more than half of those polled are supporting more managers than in previous years and additional tasks are being handed to […]

Devices in the workplace improve efficiency and productivity, but manage them carefully or they can also be a distraction. The arrival of smart phones, notebook laptops, tablets and high speed internet has undoubtedly had a positive impact on our lives, dramatically changing the way we interact with others and the modern workplace. Technology now enables […]

If you or your boss move between PCs or access work files at home and from varied locations, cloud computing could meet your needs. Many British companies are wary of the cloud due to concerns over security, concerns about losing in-house control, and uncertainty about how the cloud can benefit their business. Others feel that […]

A major part of any PA’s job is to assist their boss with getting through his or her tasks in a timely manner. Creating a to-do list that you both have access to is the best way to ensure you’re on the same page when it comes to getting work done and it will help […]

Being assertive in the workplace is essential if you’re to make your mark and be well regarded by management as well as your peers, so take a look at these essential tips for being self-assured without resorting to aggression. Learn how and when to say no: It’s important to set boundaries and you are within your […]

The business world needs alpha personalities – without them, very little would be achieved and no great progress would be made. However, supporting such personalities can be a big challenge and PAs need to arm themselves with the tricks of the trade in order to help them deal with this type of executive. The session […]

Following on from our guide to using LinkedIn, PA Life considers the impact our social networking posts have on career development. Most of us use social networks, both for career networking and also as a light-hearted way of keeping in touch with friends. But have you Googled yourself lately? Or checked that your Facebook profile […]

Management assistants can derive inspiration from many sources and there are few more well-respected or admired role models than consummate entrepreneur Richard Branson. So when one American business-owner met him on his private island of Necker she used the opportunity to formulate a few golden rules for personal success. The manager of Atlanta-based VA agency […]

Organising a conference can seem a bit daunting but if you work through the decision-making process, you can stage the perfect event. Here are some top tips for putting together a successful meeting. How do I start?First, decide what you want to achieve from the conference and your budget. Then work through the checklist. What […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]