Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Most of us that have been working in the PA industry for a while now will have heard of the phrase ‘the tech-savvy assistant’. It might have cropped up on your job specs and been discussed during your most recent job interview. It is so important for Assistants to have a good grasp of [.]. 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
SMART objectives for Executive Assistants are so crucial because, without them, Assistants can be at such a disadvantage. They can be taken for granted, they can be mismanaged, and they can be left without a clue as to what exactly is expected of them in the role. 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
So, you are thinking about heading into the unknown and need some tips on how to transition out of your role Whether you are changing your career or going into business for yourself, this is a big deal. You are amazing for deciding to follow through with your dream! Well done! The idea didn’t [.]. MORE
Our Tips and Techniques for Assistants video series focus on seasoned Assistant’s advice for success in the role. Each Assistant has a tremendous amount of knowledge to share with you, and we are proud to introduce their videos to you each week. 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
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
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
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
Many of you are reading this from the comfort of your home office. At first, this may sound like heaven on earth (a lot of people think they want to work from home). The reality will settle in quickly (if it hasn’t already). 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
There are a lot of critical responsibilities for Assistants. During the day, Assistants have to do so many different things, so their skills and tasks are incredibly varied. For new Assistants, it is hard to know where to start. Getting the basics right: Personal and Executive Assistant Key Tasks. MORE
It goes without saying that networking is essential for your career development. For a whole load of reasons, that I’m not going to write about in this blog, because we have lots of other blogs that talk about the benefit. So what am I going to write about today? 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
One area that seems to change notably from job to job is remuneration and performance reviews for Assistants. In my first full-time job, I had quarterly performance reviews with my manager, half-yearly appraisals and at the end of every year a full review and 360° feedback with my team. MORE
In a recent survey we conducted with the Practically Perfect PA readers we found that many Assistants struggle with the huge amount of work they have to get through in a day. The fast-paced environment, the never-ending deadlines and demands on their time seems to have become the norm. 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
Working alongside every successful Executive is an incredibly smart, switched-on and highly skilled Executive Assistant. There are many advanced skills that Assistants, who work in the C-suite, need to be successful in the role. We cover a lot of those skills on this website. MORE
Organising and arranging meetings for boards and executive teams can be a long-drawn-out process that requires a lot of patience and managing a lot of moving parts. I would also like to draw your attention to the following guides, which will also help you manage meetings. MORE
There are so many events, webinars, publications, blogs out there that talk about accelerating your Assistant career path and progression. Career success comes in many shapes and forms and, let’s face it, is an entirely personal definition. 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
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
Many Assistants are being asked to look after their company’s online profiles and their organisation’s social media messaging. It can be a time-consuming task that requires some thought because social media platforms change so rapidly. MORE
When your Executive leaves to start a new role, it is understandable that Assistants are concerned about what to expect from a new Executive. You build up such a strong relationship with an Executive, that can take years to get right, and the thought of going through that again is daunting. 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
In the next few weeks I will be moving house, and although the thought of it feels me with absolute dread, I am also very excited because I finally get to have an office. Yes, that is right, a whole room that is just dedicated to Practically Perfect PA! 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
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 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
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
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
This is a guest post from Jenna Potter, the Social Media & Content Executive at CHS Group. Jenna sends out a Weekly Roundup email series where she selects her favourite 4+ resources every week that help PAs, EAs and VAs advance their career and life. Get it sent to your inbox here. MORE
It’s coming up to that time of year again where we all sit down with our Executive’s to review our performance and set goals and objectives for next year. MORE
As we all know writing minutes is an essential skill for Assistants and this ultimate guide to effective minute-taking we will break-down everything Assistants need to know to create minutes that will be read and actioned. MORE
Practically Perfect PA
JUNE 16, 2020
Working alongside every successful Executive is an incredibly smart, switched-on and highly skilled Executive Assistant. There are many advanced skills that Assistants, who work in the C-suite, need to be successful in the role. We cover a lot of those skills on this website.
Practically Perfect PA
FEBRUARY 17, 2020
As we all know writing minutes is an essential skill for Assistants and this ultimate guide to effective minute-taking we will break-down everything Assistants need to know to create minutes that will be read and actioned.
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Practically Perfect PA
JANUARY 28, 2020
SMART objectives for Executive Assistants are so crucial because, without them, Assistants can be at such a disadvantage. They can be taken for granted, they can be mismanaged, and they can be left without a clue as to what exactly is expected of them in the role.
Practically Perfect PA
APRIL 2, 2020
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
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
JUNE 18, 2020
Organising and arranging meetings for boards and executive teams can be a long-drawn-out process that requires a lot of patience and managing a lot of moving parts. I would also like to draw your attention to the following guides, which will also help you manage meetings.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 7, 2020
There are a lot of critical responsibilities for Assistants. During the day, Assistants have to do so many different things, so their skills and tasks are incredibly varied. For new Assistants, it is hard to know where to start. Getting the basics right: Personal and Executive Assistant Key Tasks.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 25, 2020
Most of us that have been working in the PA industry for a while now will have heard of the phrase ‘the tech-savvy assistant’. It might have cropped up on your job specs and been discussed during your most recent job interview. It is so important for Assistants to have a good grasp of [.].
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
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
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
MARCH 10, 2020
In a recent survey we conducted with the Practically Perfect PA readers we found that many Assistants struggle with the huge amount of work they have to get through in a day. The fast-paced environment, the never-ending deadlines and demands on their time seems to have become the norm.
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
APRIL 26, 2020
Many of you are reading this from the comfort of your home office. At first, this may sound like heaven on earth (a lot of people think they want to work from home). The reality will settle in quickly (if it hasn’t already).
Practically Perfect PA
JUNE 18, 2019
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.
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
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
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
JULY 29, 2019
When your Executive leaves to start a new role, it is understandable that Assistants are concerned about what to expect from a new Executive. You build up such a strong relationship with an Executive, that can take years to get right, and the thought of going through that again is daunting.
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
APRIL 16, 2020
So, you are thinking about heading into the unknown and need some tips on how to transition out of your role Whether you are changing your career or going into business for yourself, this is a big deal. You are amazing for deciding to follow through with your dream! Well done! The idea didn’t [.].
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
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
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
FEBRUARY 3, 2020
This is a guest post from Jenna Potter, the Social Media & Content Executive at CHS Group. Jenna sends out a Weekly Roundup email series where she selects her favourite 4+ resources every week that help PAs, EAs and VAs advance their career and life. Get it sent to your inbox here.
Practically Perfect PA
MARCH 4, 2020
Our Tips and Techniques for Assistants video series focus on seasoned Assistant’s advice for success in the role. Each Assistant has a tremendous amount of knowledge to share with you, and we are proud to introduce their videos to you each week.
Practically Perfect PA
MARCH 2, 2020
There are so many events, webinars, publications, blogs out there that talk about accelerating your Assistant career path and progression. Career success comes in many shapes and forms and, let’s face it, is an entirely personal definition.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 27, 2019
We’ve all been there, picture the scene.
Practically Perfect PA
MARCH 12, 2020
We know that many Assistants are heavily involved in organising events.
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 23, 2019
Many Assistants are being asked to look after their company’s online profiles and their organisation’s social media messaging. It can be a time-consuming task that requires some thought because social media platforms change so rapidly.
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
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
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018
It goes without saying that networking is essential for your career development. For a whole load of reasons, that I’m not going to write about in this blog, because we have lots of other blogs that talk about the benefit. So what am I going to write about today?
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 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
JULY 9, 2019
Problem-solving is one of the critical skills that will be needed by office employees by 2020.
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
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 22, 2018
In the next few weeks I will be moving house, and although the thought of it feels me with absolute dread, I am also very excited because I finally get to have an office. Yes, that is right, a whole room that is just dedicated to Practically Perfect PA!
Practically Perfect PA
OCTOBER 21, 2019
It’s coming up to that time of year again where we all sit down with our Executive’s to review our performance and set goals and objectives for next year.
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
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 […].
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