Starting a PA Forum
This toolkit was launched at PAFSA's annual Inter-Committee-Convention held at Kievits Kroon in Gauteng.
This toolkit has been placed online so that it is available for all PAs/Admin and secretarial organisations worldwide.
In brief: Why start an in-house forum
Some of the benefits of a PA Forum include:
- Enabling the necessary access to important operational information and tools, to ensure that updated information is available through electronic channels to the PA community.
- Assisting setting standards across the organisation.
- Ensuring consistent training, mentorship and skills development is available to all PAs.
- Sharing of knowledge and ensuring that PAs are well informed and understand their role in the organization.
- Enabling the PAs to be champions for change by challenging old habits and ensuring that policies and procedures are optimised.
- Creating a sense of team dynamic and an opportunity to network for all PAs.
- To fullfil the company's core values.
The ultimate aim would be to establish a best of breed and a standard of excellence among the organisation PA community.
Profile of the PA who can start/lead and in-house PA Forum:
To manage the organisation PA's training, development and operational needs.
Key Outputs
- Ability to understand the various PA roles within the organisation.
- Provide one-on-one coaching and mentoring where applicable.
- Manage and set up monthly PA Induction training sessions for new and current PAs.
- Set up operational training initiative as required by business owners.
- Provide bespoke certified and SETA approved training courses.
- Work with both organisation training department and secretarial vendors to ensure best outcome and value for company's PAs.
- Ability to liaise with all company business units to ensure training and operational processes are adequately communicated to the PA community.
- Initiate and maintain PA Resource folder.
- Communicate all relevant business information and updates on a regular basis to the PA community.
- Provide bespoke training sessions on soft skills.
- Encourage LMS learning.
- Provide monthly information sessions for the PA community.
- Manage Secretaries Day, Boss's Day and all other events which affects and incentivize the PA community.
- Plan and organise an annual PA conference.
- Manage and prepare a budget for the PA forum cost centre.
- Be available to co-interview and assess new PA forum cost centre.
- Ensure an updated PA contact list is maintained.
- Communicate ongoing business information to the PA community.
- Prepare monthly and annual reports.
Competencies
- Ability to lead and inspire all PAs within the organisation.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to take accountability, responsibility and ownership.
- Ability to take initiative and exercise sound judgement and decision-making.
- Ability to work in a highly pressurized environment.
- Ability to deal positively with change and uncertainty.
- Strong business acumen.
- Strong quality orientation.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Self motivated and hard working.
- Proactive.
- Able to identify, nurture and develop PA talent.
- Customer oriented.
- High degree of accuracy and attention to detail essential.
- High groomed and professional, and sets an example for their PAs confidentiality.
- Sound work ethics.
- Team player.
Above information courtesy of Cathy Harris