IN-TRAY
Smells like team spirit
The old adage ‘The team that plays together, stays together’ may be true – but all those bonding sessions with your workmates could be seriously damaging to your health. According to Aviva 57 per cent of business leaders confessed that socialising at work usually involves a trip to the pub, with just one in five employers
running teambuilding days of a less alco- holic nature. But are those trips to the local so popular because they work? Think again. Only 23 per cent of employ- ers say alcohol fosters a positive team spirit, and over half (52%) of staff say they aren’t enthusiastic at the prospect of going out with their wider team.
THE VIEW FROM
Sharon Fullick, 42, has worked as a PA for Grant Thornton for 5 years
MY DESK
WHAT IS THE SKILL YOU USE MOST IN YOUR JOB? Diary juggling and being flexible, often having several diaries open at once and rearranging schedules to accommodate meetings and conflicting schedules.
BEST PART OF YOUR ROLE? The thought my boss will always come to me first knowing that “Sharon can sort it out!” I enjoy being needed and sorting out problems and diary clashes. My boss recently had a very demanding week, meaning I had to put an extensive itinerary together, and could not resist texting him on the Sunday night to make sure he was in the right place ready to start the week. I also thoroughly enjoy copy typing, there is not much of this done these days, so I enjoy doing this when the chance arises.
WORST PART OF YOUR ROLE? Sometimes people think PAs are at the bottom end of ‘importance’ and often are put on the back burner for training and appraisals etc. PAs can also be underesti- mated, and have a lot more skills than managers realise, it’s our job to make sure they know what we can do!
Longer hours the norm
We’re sure you don’t need the results of a survey to know that the traditional 9-5 working week is dead. But, if long hours have been getting you down you’re not alone – Reed Specialist Recruitment has profiled an average day in the life of a UK office worker and it goes something like this: ■ One in four employees is at their desk by 7.30am and doesn’t leave until 6pm
■ Forty per cent of workers admit they don’t take a lunch break
■ If a break is taken at lunch the average length of time is just 33 minutes
■ Most people spend a further 42 minutes working from home in the evening
IN BRIEF
LOSING FOCUS According to research from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 40 per cent of professionals lose their focus within the first 20 minutes of a meeting – often as a result of their uninspiring surroundings.
GET HAPPY Research from the Happiness Project has found that 15 per cent of the nation feel happiest after a great day at work – only beaten by having a lie in which got 15.6 per cent of the votes.
WHAT’S IN YOUR TOP DRAWER? Hairspray, deodorant, spare pair of tights, along with the usual – choccy bar, stapler, staples, paperclips etc, stuffed monkey...
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TODAY? Rescheduling my boss’ diary for the week after next, as he has agreed to be in London. Also covering our switchboard so our lovely Receptionist could put her tootsies up and have some lunch!
WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PA? I think there will always be a need for PAs, but we must be flexible, and able to learn and embrace new technology, even becoming fee earners should the need arise.
Want to talk? Contact
Cora@ExecutivePA.com www.executivepa.com » Aug/Sept 2010 » 07
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48