I think I've only ever posted on DD once before, as I do find the overwhelming negativity from some posters just too difficult to engage with. 

However, this particular topic - and the other about the CEOs PA really made me want to respond. 

Firstly, I think that the title of this thread is really confrontational.  Like our bosses, all PAs have different characteristics and different strengths and weaknesses.  That's what makes a team really work.  I'm the PA to the CEO of a bluechip and I'm good at my job.  I know my strengths and my weaknesses - and there are many of both - and I appreciate the strengths that the other PAs in the company bring to the table and I(generally) forgive the weaknesses.  A PA that needs to send an appointment twice because she got the timing wrong the first time may be an excellent networker, or fantastic at booking travel, or have some other skill that makes her great at her job.  Or she may just be an average PA, but a really nice person to have around.. don't underestimate how valuable it is to have someone that's friendly, co-operative and good fun around the place. 

Perhaps we all need to look at our co-workers and think about what makes them valuable to the company, and see what we can learn from each other rather than only seeing the negative. 

Secondly, the comment that the PA to the CEO has only one person to look after.. !  Well if she's anything like me, the PA to the CEO will, on an average day, do something like this - provide assistance to all the senior management around the world, (because nothing can happen unless the CEO is involved).  I take care of arranging the confidential meetings that no-one else can know about, the Chairman, the ex-Chairman, the rest of the Board, the investors, the media, the general public, the regulatory bodies, the other boards that he sits on outside our company, the industry associations.. etc., etc,  not to mention the random emails, letters and phone calls to the 'managing director' or 'the ceo' which I need to deal with so my boss doesn't have to.  Oh - and all of these people think that because their item is the most important thing going on in their diary right now its the most important thing going on in his diary too.

Rant over.. that's my two penn'orth for another couple of years.