What Makes a Good PA?
The role of a PA has changed over the years, especially since the internet boom but being an effective PA is as an important role as it’s ever been. The difference between a secretary and a PA is as simple as this: A secretary is told what to do by their manager, a PA tells the manager what to do. It’s not as easy to get into the PA field anymore, a solid university education is often necessary.
Here are some of the skills you’ll need to be a good and effective PA:
Understanding Business Strategy
An effective PA needs to understand the business strategy and needs to be able to communicate with senior managers on how to achieve business objectives. It may be the manager’s job to implement the plan but knowing the language of the senior management or board members can go a long way in helping the business to achieve its goals
Have a Good Knowledge of the Workings of the Business
Knowing the business inside and out is imperative for a PA to be highly effective, you need to be able show managers your skills and ideas and how they can affect the business and help it moving forward. A good PA is always asking questions about the business and listening to their manager and others in the business to get an overall picture of how it works.
Be Effective and Efficient
A good PA needs to be both effective and efficient. Being effective is getting the job done, and being efficient is getting the job done on time. Both of these are essential skills for a PA.
Communication Skills
Communication is one, if not the most important skill to have as a PA. Good communication with your manager and other senior executives will set you apart from a poor PA. When talking to management you need to speak clearly and concisely. Managers don’t have time for redundant words. Make your point and make it quickly. Also your communication in emails and other media needs to be equally clear. Get to know the tools and programs your team use for communication and use them effectively.
Project Management
Often your manager will come up with ideas they want implemented and this is where you’ll come in. It may be organising a conference or starting a new social media or advertisement campaign but you’ll need to know how to organise the event, which team members to include plus any accommodation issues. Also you must review your plan with the manager after it’s finished.
Be Professional
Keeping a professional manner whilst at work and away from work is also important. You should always dress smartly and arrive for promptly. Being a PA means that you will often hear about private and confidential information relating to the business and your manager personally. Under no circumstances should you discuss this information with anyone else. Your manager needs to be able to trust you and you need to trust your manager.
Being a PA isn’t an easy task. You ned to know the ins and outs of the business as well as your manager’s particular tastes and ideals but with sufficient training and practice you too can become one of the great PAs