The Definitive Personal Assistant & Secretarial Handbook: A Best Practice Guide for All Secretaries, PAs, Office Managers and Executive Assistants

by Sue France

Written by a former Times Crème PA of the Year, this new edition of The Definitive Personal Assistant and Secretarial Handbook is the ultimate guide for all management assistants, PAs, secretaries and executive assistants.

Administrative personnel in today's workplace hold an immense influence, not only on their bosses' performance, but also on the running of the whole organisation.

This bestselling book is the only resource needed to excel in one's role as an assistant, outshine bosses' expectations and go up the ladder. Placing special emphasis on career development and learning, it provides help and advice on the skills necessary to progress in your career. Along with a chapter to share with your boss for a more fruitful working relationship, The Definitive Personal Assistant and Secretarial Handbook includes help with time management, networking, relationship management, communication and confidence.

Now with a new chapter on how to use neuroscience tools to coach yourself through your weaknesses and primed behavioural traits, it also contains even more practical help with minute taking, telephone and mobile communication etiquette and presentation skills. With free downloadable online resources to aid the day-to-day running of your office, this comprehensive and accessible guide can help you keep your finger on the pulse and maintain your professional image.

Free downloadable online resources that include minute-taking templates and a comprehensive management checklist.

Genres: Business

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2015

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it very interesting that I opened this book expecting to start with phone etiquette or the like, but was surprised to begin with Neuroscience and applying that to oneself . I had never heard of this but found it very interesting. Neuroscience was explained by the author as a way to understand our own abilities and to maximize them and to apply the science to others, such as co-workers and employers, to better understand them.
The author does spend some time on our personal appearance to others and how we project ourselves. In a professional setting you want to be professional you do not want to appear as a timid mouse ready to run at a moment’s notice. There are wonderful tricks and techniques the author includes to help a person to communicate as a professional individual in the work environment.
Personal development, goals, conflict resolution are all wonderful skills to establish and to improve upon and are not just for the Personal Assistant but for every person around. That is why I truly believe this book offers so much for others beyond what the title suggests. The Neuroscience and self-analysis is a great tool for a high school entering the work force to someone who has a need to switch careers because the one they have just isn’t working. This book may help to uncover why that is.
The Definitive Personal Assistant does provide the information the title suggests. Skills of the trade and tips of improvement are inside the pages once the assistant as a person has been covered. Techniques on how to handle objectives or situations are discussed with examples or instruction to help a personal assistant become the best they can.
I liked the focus on the Personal Assistant and was fascinated by the approach from the Neuroscience aspect.
I have provided this review in exchange for receiving the ebook copy.

[Lorrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an experienced AA and I started reading this book when I began teaching a class on how to be an administrative assistant. I was looking for a way to put concepts into a curriculum that built on concepts and covered the main duties and responsibilities of the job. This book offers a very good starting point for any new AA or someone looking to break out into that career.