Career development with Hemsley Fraser

As the autumnal weather starts to kick in, the clocks have gone back and children have returned to school, our thoughts turn to the remainder of the year. Even though the calendar year starts in January, there is an underlying feeling that the working one, a bit like academic terms, actually starts with the beginning of autumn.

In order to prepare for this busy and often quite stressful period, some new skills and a fresh mindset are required. For years, PAs have been labelled as females who type, file, answer the phone and pour tea or coffee. It is a profession that it is unfairly pigeonholed and stereotyped, which may cause managerial assistants to feel frustrated and undervalued.

So how can you overcome this stereotype and raise your profile? First off, you need to recognise that the working relationship you have with your boss is paramount and the success of this relationship affects the entire organisation.

Your goal is to help your manager to achieve their goals and you need to keep this in mind at all times. So don’t be afraid to step up and say your piece in a company meeting, or build your own network of contacts.

Then you need to decide what three words you would like others to choose to describe your role and use them often, so they stick in people’s minds. Finally, remember to keep professional at all times and try to keep your home life separate from the workplace.

Follow these tips and we guarantee that no one will think of you in terms of the ‘coffee- pouring’ stereotype.

Over the coming weeks we will be providing advice on how to work through change, coach others in your team and maintain your energy at work.

Hemsley Fraser is a global innovator and leader in learning and people development and aims to help employees succeed in their careers through its pioneering and robust learning solutions. Find out more about the services it offers at hemsleyfraser.co.uk