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Toy Radebe, Coach, South Africa
"I'm interested to learn from members that serve on either executive committees or boards of global companies: what are the common attributes you look for when planning to employ a Personal Assistant? (not a secretary).
Which 3 are a must and why? Do you personally brief the recruiter or the head of HR? Why?"
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Requirements for a Personal Assistant
Loh Tean Hin, Vietnam
"I was thinking of PA but got a secretary instead.
Some common attributes to PA are: accounting experience, good social values, superior memory remembering dates of appointment etc, think-out-of box of what the superior misses, report attributes of all staff, works well as a team." |
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Executive Coordinator
David Wilson, Canada
"You may be looking for an "executive coordinator" or "board secretary" to assist the board in completing work through interaction with the various groups across the company. The position analyzes issues, writes briefing notes, coordinates budget compilation, interprets board policies, coordinates client/customer/employee surveys, develops internal procedures, etc.
The seven competencies required (based on my order of preference) are analytical thinking, relationship building, effective communications, results orientation, process management, service orientation, and conflict management.
The role will also vary based on the size and complexity of the company and board operations." |
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Personal Assistant to an Executive
Augustus Chuks Valentine, Nigeria
"I quite agree with the above mentioned requirements for a personal assistant, but I don't think having accounting experience is a compulsion; it could only be necessary. The most important thing is being grounded, to a reasonable extent, on the boss' job, being able to read his mind - know what he wants, when and how he wants it, in order to reduce his (boss') stress load." |
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Personal Assistant to an Executive
Toy Radebe, South Africa
"Loh, David, Augustus - thank you for your contribution on the matter. I continue to try and learn what makes a world class PA that provides a seamless quality service in different industries. Will share findings soon..." |
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Qualities of a Personal Assistant
robin umiom, Nigeria
"One basic quality for the personal assistant is to be a step ahead of the CEO in information, in the particular business, and in the business environment. Another is interpersonal relationship as the obvious mouthpiece of the CEO. Unfortunately CEOs are generally more knowledgeable than their PA's and they end up as secretaries and errand boys." |
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Attributes of a Personal Assistant
Andrew Blaine, South Africa
"My PA must have the following attributes:
1. Tact - to handle both me and the other people with whom I interact on a business level;
2. Discretion - to know when to question and when to accept my decisions;
3. Fortitude - to take appropriate action thereby ensuring that I remain true to my vision and business aim;
4. Understanding - to be able to respond when I wish to stray from the true "path";
5. Integrity - so that I know my PA will always defend their personal position and principles, thereby making them indispensable to my organisation; and
6. Sense of Humour - so that we share our triumphs and failures with equal aplomb." |
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