The document provides information on the evolving role of personal assistants (PAs) in the 21st century, including becoming technology experts, knowledge masters, and communication facilitators. It discusses how PAs can expand their skills through organizations like the Global PA Network, which offers professional development opportunities and connects PAs globally. The document also highlights how audio and video conferencing technologies can help PAs more easily arrange meetings and enable their managers to collaborate remotely with teams.
15. 21st Century PA Researcher Negotiator Communicator Key decision maker Project manager Recruiter Staff welfare – pastoral carer
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17. Adding Value Teamwork Technology Communication Numerate Business Awareness Autonomy 21 st Century PA
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19. Build on strengths Learn from struggles Humility & gratitude Strive for excellence Never compromise values Never give up Have faith in your ideas Fear is an opportunity How to be great?
20. 1. Cover for me 2. Oh, good idea boss 3. It was like that when I got here Homer Simpson
21. A lot of fellows have a B.A., an M.A. or a PhD. but unfortunately do not have a J.O.B. Fats Domino
Good Afternoon everyone and welcome to our new Webinar series for 2008. Its great to be talking to you all again over the internet and all the feedback we receive on a regular basis is that you find these Webinars very useful and informative. I will be giving you feedback on international research from Global PA Network members and how they are finding the role within their country. I will also be outlining a vision for the future of the role over the next 20 years and how its importance and value within the workplace will be increasing. I will also update you on Global PA Network news and events. I will then hand you over to Angela Mortimer of Angela Mortimer recruitment who has some of the most extensive knowledge of the PA role in the UK and Europe. We are very privileged to have Angela here today. [next slide]…..
Global PA network predictions for the future Your skills are:
The remote travel companion The tools you will use – expertise
Your toolbox and training Benefits of: Upskilling of UK workforce
News from around the world Value of global connections
Thank You and I will now hand you over to Angela Mortimer ……
Introduction Hello and thank you for logging into this Webinar…. My name is Angela Mortimer and I run one the leading business support recruitment companies in the UK… 250 employees 2,500 vacancies per year I will be talking about three main points today: 1. Women’s role in the workplace back when I started 2. Women in the workplace today and how the role has changed The role technology plays in your work 3. Mindset - the most important point I’ll be making today Anecdote CLICK
Being a PA sounds glamorous - reality long hours; glorified cleaning job; vomit Wasn’t for me - explored other career options Not just about money / glamour - need fulfilment good job recognition contributing growth career development All available to you now. Similar titles to past, but very different roles. CLICK **Please note ‘PERCEPTION’ appears first then ‘V’ and ‘REALITY’ after a 3 second delay
The role of a PA was a tough one, but very straightforward. Traditional PA = Gatekeeper vertical hierarchy typing speed 75 wpm shorthand 120 wpm worked to instruction opinion not required (thanks) limited career 1 on 1 Women I was recruiting in 1977 - woefully under-utilised. Changes: Education In the past 5 to 7 O-levels was average Now more than 75% of candidates using AM services have A level and above. 1. The Pill 2. Flattened business structure 3. Part-time and flexi-time options available CLICK
Biggest technology changes - last 5-10 years. Mouse = key - gadget (asking men to use keyboard = asking to wear ladies’ knickers). Who could have predicted influence of technology? (People telling AM go bust - no need for secretaries) I can’t predict technologies of future. But I do know this: Technology may provide flexibility BUT it won’t make your working life easier – EVER Main thing is to stay employable. CLICK
Improved technology – revolutionised the way we work: more information processing more work volume more measurability more productivity expected of us Already we see it the roles we take on. The main thing is to stay employable. PA = Proactive. You now are a: CLICK FOR ANIMATION Key decision maker CLICK Negotiator CLICK Project Manager CLICK Researcher… and a CLICK Recruiter Compare this to traditional role: Sheer scope of role & amount of work Responsibility The value created It’s all about churning out more. To remain employable for future stuff that will happen you will require certain competencies. CLICK
An article back in 2006 spoke about PAs being given responsibility of budgets up to £50K Since then, we have seen skills and responsibility go up tenfold Some of our top PAs are controlling £500,000 worth of funds You need to highlight the importance of your role - create savings and measuring effectiveness (which also means success) This makes the case for you being indispensable (also negotiate better pay) Social networking/black book for PAs globally are really meaning that PAs are some of the most well connected people Anecdote from Angela (EUMA) It’s up to you how you define your value within your organisation – our blue book salary survey is a good place to start. CLICK
To stay employable you need same competencies as your managers. Attributes of successful PAs: CLICK FOR ANIMATION Autonomy Business awareness Numerate Communications skills Technology Problem solving CLICK Team work CLICK Adding value = key. Maintain calm in a crisis. Let’s look at the most important kit you have…. CLICK
Strongest resource = brain. E.g. Deep Blue and Gary Kasparov. Man will apply for job if can do 75%, woman only if she can do 95%. Do you know someone really good at: Letter writing? Chairing meetings? Implementing new ideas? Public speaking? Identifying new business opportunities? Event management? Database management? Influencing people? Negotiating? Are they better at it than you? CLICK
Difference between being okay and great - need to be great all the time . **Please note animation appears AUTOMATICALLY after a 3 second delay Build on strengths: using own people skills to fit candidate to job Learn from struggles: mistake = best learning opportunity Have Humility & gratitude Strive for excellence: refusing royal job brief. Never compromise on values: refusing royal job brief. Never give up: being told that the business would go bust as no need for secretaries. Have faith in own ideas: Recognise fear as a growth opportunity: frightened witless - cliffs of change; Robert Maxwell meeting. CLICK
If you don’t like my suggestions - try Homer Simpson’s. **Please note animation appears AUTOMATICALLY after a 3 second delay Remember that it is YOUR decision to be great. You are hired for your own personal values. You are more than sum of your skills and education. CLICK
CLICK
Thank-you for listening – would love to hear from you as well Feel free to email me at angela.mortimer@angelamortimer.com or visit our website www.angelamortimer.com
- There are many challenges in your PA role that can be demanding, stressfu, having to juggle stakeholders and peoples expectations. Gatekeeper So how do you (Read Slide) We have heard from the guest speakers how various communication tools can help you to over come these challenges. A key communication tool which we have heard mentioned this evening is conferencing and how this tool can be used to overcome a number of these issues. I would like to take the time to focus on this communication tool and explore with you the different types of conferencing services which are available for you today.
Audio conferencing - sometimes called phone conferencing or teleconferencing provides a highly effective way of communicating with any number of people from wherever they are located. There is two types of audio conferencing – Instant & Booked An instant audio conferencing service requires only access to a phone to enable highly productive meetings with up to 40 participants. No prior booking is required and conferences can be established in the time participants take to call in. The service is easy to use, and is available at any time every day of the year, which is especially useful for those quick catch ups, or impromptu meetings when you need to get people together at short notice. Pre-booking your BT audio conference guarantees line availability, enhances security with unique Passcodes for each meeting, as well as giving access to additional features such as managed Q&A sessions, roll-call and recording for later reference. Booked audio calls are often used for larger, more formal meetings where some pre-planning is required. And with three booked services available.
Web Conferencing = ability to have a phone conference where everyone can view and work on the same document at the same time – via their PC and the internet. BT Web Conferencing can be easily combined with audio conferencing to add a visual element to your meeting. For two to 2,500 people, all you need is a PC with internet connection. You can view and share presentations and documents easily, plus run online discussions and even poll opinion amongst your colleagues. This is what you are viewing now. A function that may be of interest to you as a PA to the record and replay function, which allows you to listen again to the conversation, especially if you have missed any notes
Video enhances the conferencing experience dramatically and can change the way you conduct business, transforming how you interact with colleagues, customers and suppliers. It enables you to meet face-to-face, however far apart you are physically. And because it adds the power of eye contact and body language to discussion it helps build trust to strengthen working relationships. With BT Video Conferencing we will launch and run video conferences for you for two-site or multiple site video conferences. Or if you need the flexibility to be able to manage your own video conferences, and set them up instantaneously, BT Instant Video allows you to launch and run conferences using a simple web-based application.
So what are the benefits? BT saved £238m in 2007 by using conferencing as opposed to travelling to meetings. BT also avoided 103,174 tonnes of CO2 emissions by using conferencing - this equates to the annual output of 10,747 people in the UK*
Times Crème Event - (you will all receive an invite next week) 22 nd BT Tower Event – 5 tickets in a prize draw to be given away – everybody who provide us with feedback (survey to be included in the thanks (after event) e-mail will enter the prize draw.