Training courses

• Leading secretarial trainers Hemsley Fraser (hemsleyfraser.co.uk) runs a wide range of courses, many of which are aimed at secretaries and PAs to help build their management skills. The two-day course "Professional Development for Senior PAs and Executive Secretaries" is particularly appropriate.



• Training and conference organisers IIR offer a range of courses to boost your management skills. Visit iirmanagementcourses.com for a full listing of management training, a unique resource of intensive short courses and tailored in-house training programmes.



• Capita Learning & Development (capita-ld.co.uk) offers the two-day course "Presenting a Positive Image". Aimed at office staff it shows participants how to create the right impression for colleagues and clients.



• Spearhead Training (spearhead-training.co.uk) has a number of courses of interest to PAs and secretaries. The one-day workshop "PAs' Guide to Managing Others" looks at management from the PAs' perspective.



• Institute of Administrative Management courses are offered by Kudos Training (kudostraining.demon.co.uk). Various programmes are available from entry level to degree and beyond.



• Pitman (pitman-training.com) is a world leader in running courses for secretaries and PAs. The "Executive Secretary/PA" seminar has a useful section on managing your boss, while the "Time Management" seminar provides useful tips for prioritising, delegating and taking an objective look at how you spend time at work.



• Reach Training (reachtraining.co.uk) runs various courses including "Managing Yourself to Manage Others", a two-day course looking not only at time management but also effective management techniques. Some courses on time management are available online by accessing reachonline.co.uk.



• Reed (reed.co.uk/training/) offers a course on "Career Management" which provides an excellent guide to self-assessment as well as advice about how to get the job you want. Other useful programmes from Reed include "Management Skills for the Senior PA" and "Effective Office Management".

Websites and online resources

• DeskDemon is a great place to start, whatever your query. The Information pages offer sound advice on a wide range of issues you'll encounter in your worklife (from how to manage junior staff to time management) and the regular articles cover many key subjects for PAs. And don't forget the Forum Boards, where you can exchange tips and experience with your peers.



• Universal manager's website (universal-manager.co.uk) includes a Reading Room containing a range of articles, papers, reports, reviews and general information on management subjects. The People Management section is particularly interesting.



• Free articles on a variety of topics including time management and getting the best out of people are available from Total Success (totalsuccess.co.uk).



• The Impact Factory runs training courses but its website (impactfactory.com) also carries a number of helpful documents. Look for "A Jolly Good Read". Basic management skills are covered in group of articles by Gerard M. Blair at see.ed.ac.uk



• Learn Direct's website carries a number of business factsheets, including ones on time management and leadership. Access learndirect-business.co.uk



• For entertaining articles with a serious point look at Just People's section on working life (justpeople.com). The piece entitled "Enjoying your Commute" is a hoot, but serious topics are also discussed - try "Getting on with the Boss".

Books

• Getting a Top Job as a Personal Assistant, Sally Longson, ?9.99, Kogan Page (kogan-page.co.uk). An excellent guide offering a wealth of advice and insider's tips on getting to the top.



• High Flying, Debra Allcock, ?10.99, Capita Learning & Development (capita-ld.co.uk). A user-friendly guide for new managers which helps solve the difficulties inherent in the transition from team player to team leader.



• How To Be An Even Better Manager, Michael Armstrong, ?11.99, Kogan Page (kogan-page.co.uk). All managers need to keep up to date with new developments and brush up essential skills; this book helps them to do so.



• How to be Better at Managing People, Alan Barker, ?8.99, Kogan Page (kogan-page.co.uk). Aimed at those new to management or old hands seeking a fresh approach. Shows what can be gained by increasing management skills.



• Management Skills for New Managers, Ellis, ?8.99, McGraw-Hill (mcgraw-hill.co.uk). Due out this month (ie October 2004) the book recognises the different skills needed by team players and managers and helps with the transfer from one to the other.



• Successful Time Management, Patrick Forsyth, ?7.99, Kogan Page (kogan-page.co.uk). Easy-to-access, practical guidelines, tips and techniques to help readers assess their own time management and adopt new practices to improve it. Very useful.



• Managing Your Career in a Changing Workplace, Jane Ballback, Jan Slater, ?9.99, Kogan Page (kogan-page.co.uk). Shows how to consider career options, opportunities and choices using self-assessment exercises, checklists and casestudies.

Products and Services

• As well as training, IIR organises Executive PA in Business, an annual event held 2-5 November this year (iir-conferences.com). The only event of its kind in Europe, the topics covered are those secretaries and PAs need to stay ahead. If you miss it, then planning for next year's event is already under way. See above for IIR's training courses.



• Even with the best time management in the world, you can only stretch the day so far. Staff from AlldayPA can take messages, act as a receptionist or switchboard, cover for holidays, etc. Charges vary according to the level of service.



• Office Team (officeteamuk.com) arranges help in the form of specialist administrative staff plus advice and information on career management. Its website also has a useful information and resource centre.



• Need help with your image, or does your firm want to address the issue of dress codes in the office? Just ask First Impressions (firstimpressions.uk.com). The company runs workshops and courses on setting up dress codes for staff, as well as more individual sessions on how to improve the impression you're creating.



• Colour Me Beautiful (CMB) is Europe's leading image consultancy and Image Matters (cmb.co.uk/) is CMB's corporate division. Sessions last from an hour to a day.



• Learning resources are available from the Institute of Leadership & Management (i-l-m.com). They include CDs and Videos on management, self development, help for new managers, etc.