Watch Your PA
I, your humble PA, increase your effectiveness by 34% according to studies.
Have you ever spent a day watching your PA? I suppose you’d have to slow time to see anything more than a blur. I, your humble PA, increase your effectiveness by 34% according to studies.
Behind the scenes, I’m here keeping you afloat, tidying up the incidentals so that you can focus on work. I’m piling contacts you made at that networking event for that thing on Thursday, remember the guy, what was his name? Yep, got it, got his business card, and set something up for next month at “the place that does the fish”. Don’t panic. I know what you need, before you do. It is done.
The others won’t know I’m here – but here I am, traversing central London, setting up at the event “you” planned, half checking boxes for vegetarian meal options and half on my phone updating four different calendars in three different apps and sending out meeting confirmations.
My phone rings, and now I’m booking a conference call.
Luckily I dealt with the travel arrangements already – yes, I know, window seat, business class, I have it under control. The details are in your diary. I know the website said it was booked up, just trust me, I got you a seat. I make things happen. Yes, I’ve emailed you the Japanese phrases for hello and black coffee. Yes, they’re phonetically spelt.
Your presentation is already on your laptop, I took care of that too. Hard copies are on your desk, with your printed itinerary. No, no, don’t worry – I spotted that typo, corrected it days ago.
I’m back on the tube now, using the WiFi at each station to research alternative routes for your transfer in case there’s traffic. Everything you need is with the courier, I dealt with that too. Yes, including your suit.
Dinner when you get back’s been confirmed, I’ve emailed the directions to the clients. Yes, they have Vegan options.
Have you ever spent a day watching your PA? I know you don’t see all I do. Now I am sitting on the sofa, watching TV and mentally preparing for tomorrow and my phone vibrates. “Can you make sure that the Board Meeting Minutes are sent round to everyone by tomorrow”. I smile. It is already done. Another vibrate: “what would I do without you”.