Expert insights. Personalized for you.
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
As an Assistant, it’s your responsibility to arrange meetings that run without a hitch, and a key cog in the meeting machine is catering. 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
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
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
Problem-solving is one of the critical skills that will be needed by office employees by 2020. 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
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
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
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
A crucial aspect of being an Assistant is that ability to organise everything backstage so that others can shine. We are so used to being that support for others that quite often we are stuck in a bit of a rut with our own personal and professional development. I wonder if it stops us from […]. 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
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
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
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
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
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
In most organisations, work often needs to be formally approved or signed-off by Senior Executives before the work can begin or the next phase of the project. Executives also have to accept leave requests, sickness reports, expenses, invoices, purchase orders and budget requests. 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
A new year is an opportunity for a fresh start. So this year, why not make your resolution to impress your boss – and reap the rewards that follow! Here are some top tips on how to make a positive impression in 2020 when planning a meeting. 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
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
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
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
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
Effective calendar management for Executive Assistants is a hugely important aspect of th role. Assistants spend at the very least a third of their day organising their Executive’s schedule. Juggling our Executive’s time is a complex operation. MORE
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
MARCH 12, 2020
We know that many Assistants are heavily involved in organising events.
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Practically Perfect PA
MARCH 18, 2020
As an Assistant, it’s your responsibility to arrange meetings that run without a hitch, and a key cog in the meeting machine is catering.
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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 28, 2019
A crucial aspect of being an Assistant is that ability to organise everything backstage so that others can shine. We are so used to being that support for others that quite often we are stuck in a bit of a rut with our own personal and professional development. I wonder if it stops us from […].
Practically Perfect PA
OCTOBER 29, 2019
In most organisations, work often needs to be formally approved or signed-off by Senior Executives before the work can begin or the next phase of the project. Executives also have to accept leave requests, sickness reports, expenses, invoices, purchase orders and budget requests.
Practically Perfect PA
MAY 27, 2019
We’ve all been there, picture the scene.
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
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 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
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
JULY 9, 2019
Problem-solving is one of the critical skills that will be needed by office employees by 2020.
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
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
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
JANUARY 7, 2020
A new year is an opportunity for a fresh start. So this year, why not make your resolution to impress your boss – and reap the rewards that follow! Here are some top tips on how to make a positive impression in 2020 when planning a meeting.
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
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
FEBRUARY 18, 2020
Effective calendar management for Executive Assistants is a hugely important aspect of th role. Assistants spend at the very least a third of their day organising their Executive’s schedule. Juggling our Executive’s time is a complex operation.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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, […].
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