INDUSTRY INSIGHTS YOUR PEERS ARE READING
On pretty much every job description for Assistants, you will see the phrase, ‘must be a team player’ It is so common that it is easy to skim over that requirement – sure, we all have to be team players, next! MORE
Assistants are regularly asked to juggle multiple tasks and projects while reacting to other people’s urgent requests and deadlines. It is not an easy gig! When your To-Do list doesn’t stop growing, how do you plan what to do first? MORE
Are you thinking about quitting your job but you don’t know if you are doing it for the right reasons? It is a tough decision to leave any job. You have security, a regular pay-check and of course, once you had your notice in, you can rarely change your mind. So when you do quit, […]. MORE
There are so many events, webinars, publications, blogs out there that talk about career success for Assistants. Career success comes in many shapes and forms and, let’s face it, is an entirely personal definition. MORE
We all know how tough it is to get a meeting in your Executive’s schedule, let alone everyone who also needs to be in the meeting. And of course, once they are all in the meeting, who knows if the meeting was truly productive! Planning meetings is a tough job, and that is why I […]. MORE
When it comes to successfully running your Virtual Assistant (VA) business, being an awesome Virtual Assistant isn’t enough. A VA can be excellent at their job, have a positive mindset, the necessary skill set required to do the job well and a desire to be there for her clients. MORE
Just recently I was chairing a panel session at the Conference and Hospitality Show in Leeds. Before going on the stage myself and the other panellists were talking about how we conquer our nerves so that we can get up on stage and speak to the audience. As I think we all know, speaking in […]. MORE
Problem-solving is one of the critical skills that will be needed by office employees by 2020. MORE
Having worked through a few company restructures in my career I have often been given the horrible task of creating new organisational charts. MORE
Every business is started by someone with a vision. They are the driving force behind the business, and they want to change the world. You might not work for the person who started the organisation. MORE
A considerable part of an Executive’s job is to lead their staff, motivate and encourage them. However, this isn’t always the case. There are many Executive’s who are too busy, or under too much pressure in their roles to manage their staff effectively. MORE
I know it is mid-July and we are a world away from the festive season, but it is time to start planning out the end of year party. You may think I am crazy, but actually, this is the best time of year to start thinking about your office do. Planning your festive celebration should […]. MORE
As I’ve always said, your Executive’s number one resource is their time, and your role is to safeguard that time, making sure they use their time correctly so that they are successful in the position. MORE
Enjoy today’s Day in the life: Anna Dukes, Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive at ITN, which is full of Executive Assistant Tips and Tricks. What are the main aspects of your role? MORE
I’ve just finished reading Think Better Analytically, and I want to share my learning with you! I decided to read the book because I don’t think of myself as someone who thinks logically or analytically. MORE
So many organisations are making a move from Microsoft Office to Google Suite (Practically Perfect PA being one such business!). I love Gmail, it is such a great tool, and with all of the available Chrome extensions, you really can make Gmail an incredibly productive tool. MORE
Last week I wrote a blog post about the meetings you should have with your Executive, where I detailed the meetings you should set up in your Executive’s diary that focuses on the work that the two of you need to move the business forward.f MORE
We all know that communication with your Executive is key to a successful working relationship and I’ve found over the years, the more access an Assistant has to their Executive the more they are seen as a critical asset within the organisation. MORE
What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? A great question isn’t it? This is where I started when I created my personal vision statement. MORE
The vast majority of recruitment agencies and employers now use video as part of their interview process, because it saves time and money on the early stages of the interview process. MORE
How do you feel when someone gives you feedback at work? Are you open to feedback, or do you feel defensive? What happens when you have challenges at work? Do you face them head-on, or do you avoid the situation? As Assistants, we often come up against misconceptions about the role. MORE
Before we dive into our list of productivity tools, I want to spend a few minutes talking to you about the importance of keeping up with the latest technology. MORE
Every business and organisation needs its employees to work together, to move projects forward and reach common goals. Collaboration is an essential skill for everyone. However, for Assistants, collaboration is vital. We have to work with other members of staff on projects and reaching common goals. MORE
You know what it is like, you are having a hectic day, emails to answer, meetings to attend, people talking to you, asking questions and looking to you for answers. The phone rings, you have no idea who it is or what they want. They want to speak to your Executive or someone random in […]. MORE
Networking is such an essential part of the Assistant role. We can work in such silos that without a network to support our endeavours, the position can be very lonely. MORE
As assistants, managing details to ensure things run smoothly is a big part of what we do. We take pride in our detail-oriented nature as it relates to all that we produce, from professional email correspondence to travel arrangements to company-wide projects and initiatives. MORE
Assistants have buckets full of empathy; you wouldn’t be in the job if you didn’t. What I find is that empathy can often be taken advantage of by people who don’t respect what we do – be it, that colleague who wants your time or that Executive who doesn’t understand your role. MORE
Have you ever felt like you’re stuck and don’t know what to do next? Unsure about the direction your career is taking? Or utterly uninspired by your current situation? I hear you. I have been there myself. A few years ago, I felt lost, frustrated and had no clue how to move forward. I felt […]. MORE
There are so many Assistants who are also working as an Office Manager and a lot of Office Managers who are also Assistants! The roles are similar, and there are a lot of overlapping skills. However, Office Managers do have to take on some tasks that are high-level and move the business forward. MORE
How often do you organise a video conference for your Executive or team on Skype? If you are using Microsoft Office, it is probably quite often. Well, today, I thought I would share with you the top five alternative video conferencing platforms that are available online. MORE
We all know that looking for a new job isn’t easy. It can take a lot of time with hours of searching through job descriptions, speaking to recruitment agencies and then, of course, the time spent preparing for and going to job interviews. It is a job in itself! MORE
Just think how much time you spend organising travel for your Executive or your team? It’s a lot, right? Maybe 20% of your week? Maybe more? That time will be taken up by meticulously planning trips with the hope that nothing will go wrong while their Executive is away from the office. MORE
“If you do not understand the benefits of difference, you will always align yourself to your similarities, and in doing so, you will miss out on the beauty that variety brings to the table.” MORE
It goes without saying that at some point in your career, you will have to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines and deal with stressful situations. Although organisations should care for their employee’s wellbeing and strive to create a calm environment, this is not always achievable. MORE
Well, that is us in 2019 folks! Happy New Year. Firstly before I start this blog, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the Practically Perfect PA readers who are joining us for another year on the blog. We have been going now since 2011, and I can’t wait to see […]. MORE
The role of the Assistant these days is pretty diverse; one day you will be assisting one executive with personal tasks, the next you may be making business travel arrangements for a different person, managing a project, working on a big event or hiring a new Administrative team. MORE
The trait that I admire most in exceptional leaders (think Oprah Winfrey and Brene Brown) is the time they dedicate to learning new things. I love that they read, take on new ideas and concepts and never stop growing. This is something that I always try to find time for, and I think it is […]. MORE
We are really excited to announce that we will be sharing an article each month from Executive Secretary Magazine. We are starting with this fantastic article from Marie Herman. Following these tips really will save you a massive amount of time searching the internet! MORE
It goes without saying that for an Assistant to be successful in the role, they need to have strong business acumen. I’ve written about this skill a lot over the years, and I have presented on the topic at various events. MORE
Enjoy today’s Day in the life: Hayley Lawrence, PA Regional General Manager and Administration Assistant to Founders Office – Necker & Moskito Islands, in The British Virgin Islands. I love this interview because it shows how exciting, different, challenging and incredible our profession is! MORE
We all know how hard it is keeping on top of the never-ending to-do list every Assistant and their Executive seem to have. The work can be relentless but don’t fear; there are lots of fantastic apps available that can help you manage your to-do list. MORE
These ten fantastic pieces of software will help you manage your emails and your Executives. It is worth looking to see which ones will work for you, but they will all help you manage and automate emails! MORE
Although we do our absolute best to save our Executive’s time, more often than not, we find that they are still running around from meeting to meeting, working on last-minute projects, asking you to deal with urgent matters and postponing essential tasks. MORE
Practically Perfect PA
OCTOBER 4, 2019
These ten fantastic pieces of software will help you manage your emails and your Executives. It is worth looking to see which ones will work for you, but they will all help you manage and automate emails!
Practically Perfect PA
SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
As assistants, managing details to ensure things run smoothly is a big part of what we do. We take pride in our detail-oriented nature as it relates to all that we produce, from professional email correspondence to travel arrangements to company-wide projects and initiatives.
Practically Perfect PA
SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? A great question isn’t it? This is where I started when I created my personal vision statement.
Practically Perfect PA
JULY 2, 2019
There are so many Assistants who are also working as an Office Manager and a lot of Office Managers who are also Assistants! The roles are similar, and there are a lot of overlapping skills. However, Office Managers do have to take on some tasks that are high-level and move the business forward.
Practically Perfect PA
OCTOBER 1, 2019
Although we do our absolute best to save our Executive’s time, more often than not, we find that they are still running around from meeting to meeting, working on last-minute projects, asking you to deal with urgent matters and postponing essential tasks.
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 28, 2019
How do you feel when someone gives you feedback at work? Are you open to feedback, or do you feel defensive? What happens when you have challenges at work? Do you face them head-on, or do you avoid the situation? As Assistants, we often come up against misconceptions about the role.
Practically Perfect PA
SEPTEMBER 16, 2019
There are so many events, webinars, publications, blogs out there that talk about career success for Assistants. Career success comes in many shapes and forms and, let’s face it, is an entirely personal definition.
Practically Perfect PA
JULY 26, 2019
So many organisations are making a move from Microsoft Office to Google Suite (Practically Perfect PA being one such business!). I love Gmail, it is such a great tool, and with all of the available Chrome extensions, you really can make Gmail an incredibly productive tool.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 6, 2019
Enjoy today’s Day in the life: Hayley Lawrence, PA Regional General Manager and Administration Assistant to Founders Office – Necker & Moskito Islands, in The British Virgin Islands. I love this interview because it shows how exciting, different, challenging and incredible our profession is!
Practically Perfect PA
AUGUST 19, 2019
The trait that I admire most in exceptional leaders (think Oprah Winfrey and Brene Brown) is the time they dedicate to learning new things. I love that they read, take on new ideas and concepts and never stop growing. This is something that I always try to find time for, and I think it is […].
Practically Perfect PA
JUNE 19, 2019
When it comes to successfully running your Virtual Assistant (VA) business, being an awesome Virtual Assistant isn’t enough. A VA can be excellent at their job, have a positive mindset, the necessary skill set required to do the job well and a desire to be there for her clients.
Practically Perfect PA
OCTOBER 11, 2019
We all know how tough it is to get a meeting in your Executive’s schedule, let alone everyone who also needs to be in the meeting. And of course, once they are all in the meeting, who knows if the meeting was truly productive! Planning meetings is a tough job, and that is why I […].
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 25, 2019
Enjoy today’s Day in the life: Anna Dukes, Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive at ITN, which is full of Executive Assistant Tips and Tricks. What are the main aspects of your role?
Practically Perfect PA
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
On pretty much every job description for Assistants, you will see the phrase, ‘must be a team player’ It is so common that it is easy to skim over that requirement – sure, we all have to be team players, next!
Practically Perfect PA
JULY 11, 2019
The role of the Assistant these days is pretty diverse; one day you will be assisting one executive with personal tasks, the next you may be making business travel arrangements for a different person, managing a project, working on a big event or hiring a new Administrative team.
Practically Perfect PA
AUGUST 1, 2019
Every business and organisation needs its employees to work together, to move projects forward and reach common goals. Collaboration is an essential skill for everyone. However, for Assistants, collaboration is vital. We have to work with other members of staff on projects and reaching common goals.
Practically Perfect PA
JULY 9, 2019
Problem-solving is one of the critical skills that will be needed by office employees by 2020.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 27, 2019
We’ve all been there, picture the scene.
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 1, 2019
We all know how hard it is keeping on top of the never-ending to-do list every Assistant and their Executive seem to have. The work can be relentless but don’t fear; there are lots of fantastic apps available that can help you manage your to-do list.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 9, 2019
Just recently I was chairing a panel session at the Conference and Hospitality Show in Leeds. Before going on the stage myself and the other panellists were talking about how we conquer our nerves so that we can get up on stage and speak to the audience. As I think we all know, speaking in […].
Practically Perfect PA
OCTOBER 31, 2019
A considerable part of an Executive’s job is to lead their staff, motivate and encourage them. However, this isn’t always the case. There are many Executive’s who are too busy, or under too much pressure in their roles to manage their staff effectively.
Practically Perfect PA
OCTOBER 10, 2019
It goes without saying that at some point in your career, you will have to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines and deal with stressful situations. Although organisations should care for their employee’s wellbeing and strive to create a calm environment, this is not always achievable.
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 11, 2019
“If you do not understand the benefits of difference, you will always align yourself to your similarities, and in doing so, you will miss out on the beauty that variety brings to the table.”
Practically Perfect PA
JUNE 6, 2019
Before we dive into our list of productivity tools, I want to spend a few minutes talking to you about the importance of keeping up with the latest technology.
Practically Perfect PA
SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
Assistants are regularly asked to juggle multiple tasks and projects while reacting to other people’s urgent requests and deadlines. It is not an easy gig! When your To-Do list doesn’t stop growing, how do you plan what to do first?
Practically Perfect PA
JULY 16, 2019
I know it is mid-July and we are a world away from the festive season, but it is time to start planning out the end of year party. You may think I am crazy, but actually, this is the best time of year to start thinking about your office do. Planning your festive celebration should […].
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 8, 2019
How often do you organise a video conference for your Executive or team on Skype? If you are using Microsoft Office, it is probably quite often. Well, today, I thought I would share with you the top five alternative video conferencing platforms that are available online.
Practically Perfect PA
NOVEMBER 7, 2019
Assistants have buckets full of empathy; you wouldn’t be in the job if you didn’t. What I find is that empathy can often be taken advantage of by people who don’t respect what we do – be it, that colleague who wants your time or that Executive who doesn’t understand your role.
Practically Perfect PA
JULY 15, 2019
Networking is such an essential part of the Assistant role. We can work in such silos that without a network to support our endeavours, the position can be very lonely.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 13, 2019
The vast majority of recruitment agencies and employers now use video as part of their interview process, because it saves time and money on the early stages of the interview process.
Practically Perfect PA
JUNE 4, 2019
Just think how much time you spend organising travel for your Executive or your team? It’s a lot, right? Maybe 20% of your week? Maybe more? That time will be taken up by meticulously planning trips with the hope that nothing will go wrong while their Executive is away from the office.
Practically Perfect PA
JUNE 14, 2019
We are really excited to announce that we will be sharing an article each month from Executive Secretary Magazine. We are starting with this fantastic article from Marie Herman. Following these tips really will save you a massive amount of time searching the internet!
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 20, 2019
Are you thinking about quitting your job but you don’t know if you are doing it for the right reasons? It is a tough decision to leave any job. You have security, a regular pay-check and of course, once you had your notice in, you can rarely change your mind. So when you do quit, […].
Practically Perfect PA
JUNE 13, 2019
It goes without saying that for an Assistant to be successful in the role, they need to have strong business acumen. I’ve written about this skill a lot over the years, and I have presented on the topic at various events.
Practically Perfect PA
MARCH 12, 2019
You know what it is like, you are having a hectic day, emails to answer, meetings to attend, people talking to you, asking questions and looking to you for answers. The phone rings, you have no idea who it is or what they want. They want to speak to your Executive or someone random in […].
Practically Perfect PA
SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
We all know that looking for a new job isn’t easy. It can take a lot of time with hours of searching through job descriptions, speaking to recruitment agencies and then, of course, the time spent preparing for and going to job interviews. It is a job in itself!
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 21, 2019
Last week I wrote a blog post about the meetings you should have with your Executive, where I detailed the meetings you should set up in your Executive’s diary that focuses on the work that the two of you need to move the business forward.f
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 17, 2019
Having worked through a few company restructures in my career I have often been given the horrible task of creating new organisational charts.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 14, 2019
We all know that communication with your Executive is key to a successful working relationship and I’ve found over the years, the more access an Assistant has to their Executive the more they are seen as a critical asset within the organisation.
Practically Perfect PA
JULY 22, 2019
Have you ever felt like you’re stuck and don’t know what to do next? Unsure about the direction your career is taking? Or utterly uninspired by your current situation? I hear you. I have been there myself. A few years ago, I felt lost, frustrated and had no clue how to move forward. I felt […].
Practically Perfect PA
MARCH 21, 2019
I’ve just finished reading Think Better Analytically, and I want to share my learning with you! I decided to read the book because I don’t think of myself as someone who thinks logically or analytically.
Practically Perfect PA
JANUARY 3, 2019
Well, that is us in 2019 folks! Happy New Year. Firstly before I start this blog, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the Practically Perfect PA readers who are joining us for another year on the blog. We have been going now since 2011, and I can’t wait to see […].
Practically Perfect PA
JULY 30, 2019
Every business is started by someone with a vision. They are the driving force behind the business, and they want to change the world. You might not work for the person who started the organisation.
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