Delegates learning new skills at PA Life Training Day

PA Life Training Day has kicked off to a great start this morning, with PAs sitting in on brilliant sessions lead by established assistants and industry experts. Our two main sessions feature popular speakers Deborah Ogden and Adam Fidler, while seminars have been headed up by Emily Mills and Will Murray.

Deborah, a Personal Branding and Impact Coach who runs DO Positive Impact is teaching PAs all about “First impressions, impact and influence”, giving them the skills they need to create a personal brand that will help them stand out in the business world. She is covering visual impact, body language and communication skills to give attendees the tools and techniques to communicate effectively from the word go.

Meanwhile, Adam – a PA with 20 years’ experience who is now the Principal Consultant at Adept Executive Support – is showing PAs how to “Maximise and manage the relationship with your executive”. He’s giving them strategies and tools to be more effective at their jobs, introducing concepts that continue to push the role of the PA and EA into ‘middle management’ so they can have professional conversations with their bosses.

In Emily Mills’ session, she outlined the role of virtual assistants and how the skills of an office-based PA can translate to going it alone as an independent VA. Will Murray from Packtypes taught his attendees how to minimise stress to maximise opportunities by understanding themselves and everyone around them.

During their networking coffee breaks, attendees have had the opportunity to speak to a selection of hand-picked suppliers. They’ll get a stamp for each one they visit for a chance to win a £200 gift voucher from luxury jewellery brand Cadenzza.

As we speak, Deborah and Adam are finishing off the second half of their courses, while other PAs are learning how to tackle difficult conversations with Janet Rawson from Twisted Events and “The power of profile” with Vanessa Vallely from WeAreTheCity.

We’ll check back in after lunch with an update.