CareerSuccess magazine International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant edition

for administrative & office professionals

Volume 26 Issue 3

IYOTSA 2014: International Year of the Secretary Performance traps

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ED's MEMO Let’s build a happy sandpit – together!

I met Colin J. Browne recently when he delivered a keynote – How to Build a Happy Sandpit - for one of our events. Many of us bought a copy of his book (of the same title) that day, because the messages therein are really interesting about people’s behaviour at work in terms of a ‘culture’ that exists or should exist.

It made me think a lot!

Not only in terms of the culture that we have here at Dictum Publishers, but also the ‘culture’ that we carry (whether we’re conscious of it or not) to our initiatives and events.

As a publishing and events organisation our USP is that we create networks of excellence, i.e. communities of people whom we have brought together and encourage to stay together - not just for their own benefit of knowledge enrichment but to share that knowledge with others!

One such "community" is under the auspices of PAFSA: www.pafsa.co.za. Within PAFSA there is a network of excellence called The Academy of Excellence. And there is also a social club called FriendsCup. We have carried our culture of 'caring’ and 'valuing professionals' to the three above, so what you see pervading our encounters and events are a lot of hugs and welcoming smiles. We have built a welcoming and embracing sandpit.

But this has been, and is, within our borders.

Ana-Maria

We now want to extend our ‘welcoming and embracing sandpit culture’ beyond our borders … and reach out to as many secretaries, PAs, EAs and Admin Assistants as possible - worldwide!

In launching, organising and co-ordinating the International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant (IYOTSA 2014), we want to gather the goodwill of all of you; we want to celebrate how far you have come as professionals, and we want to create better sandpits worldwide for you to shine in!

Welcome 2014! Welcome world!

CONTENTS Features

16 Key Feature: From rock bottom to the taste of success experience 32 Career Matters: We are all responsible for our own happy sandpits 34 Special Feature: The 20 jobs of the future

Special events 20 PA Summit: A pictorial review

21 Secretaries Day Gala Lunch: A pictorial review 26 Boss of the Year: Meet the semifinalists 2013.

REGULARS 1

Ed's Memo: Lets build a happy sandpit - together

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News,Views and Reviews: LinkedIn; Books, Appraisals

28 Boss of the Year Luncheon: A pictorial review

InterviewS 24 PA of the Year®: Zimkitha Mbane

18 Eyes on the World: Step out of your comfort zone and embrace excitement?

38 Brain Fun: Test your wits

30 Boss of the Year®: Ayanda Nakedi 37 Academy of Excellence: Simon Manyama

SPECIAL FEATURE 9

IYOTSA 2014 Global Celebrations

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Contributors to this Edition

Editorial Director Ana-Maria Valente anamaria@dictum.co.za Admin/Advertising Director Ornella Trinco ornella@dictum.co.za Advertising/Marketing 011 616 7401 careersuccess@dictum.co.za Head: Finance & HR Guida Morais finance@dictum.co.za Subscriptions & Client Liaison Thandi Mtshali subs@dictum.co.za Graphic Design design@dictum.co.za

PRISCILLA BOWER has over 20 years’ experience as an Executive Personal Assistant, and since winning of the SA National OfficeProfessional of the Year Award 2011 / 2012, Priscilla is recognised and invited to take part in various Executive Personal Assistant Masterclass Workshops, Training Days etc, both locally and internationally, this has given her opportunities that she never thought would come her way Teri wells has worked as an Executive PA for the Chairman and CEO of the JD Group for the past 20 years. As the PA of the Year 2012/13, Teri is the Head of the Academy of Excellence Committee of PAFSA

Colin J. Browne, author and keynote speaker on How to Build A Happy Sandpit can be contacted on www.colinjbrowne. com | twitter: @colinjbrowne

Printing United Litho, Bert Groenewald, Tel: (011) 402 0571

The Company CareerSuccess is published by Dictum Publishers (Pty) Ltd Gauteng, South Africa Tel: (011) 616 7401 Fax: (011) 616 3244 E-mail: careersuccess@dictum.co.za

Wishing all PAs, Secretaries and Admin Assistants a happy and successful International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant.

www.dictum.co.za Opinions expressed in any article do not necessarily reflect on the publishers. All submissions to CareerSuccess are subject to editorial change to suit the style of the magazine. The right of reproduction of any article or other matter published in CareerSuccess is expressly reserved.Š CareerSuccess is the official publication of PAFSA. www.pafsa.co.za

IYOTSA is a www.pafsa.co.za initiative PAFSA, in the Dictum Publishers group takes no responsibility for any individual or organistion using the International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant title or the IYOTSA brand to promote themselves or their products.

Information available from Tel: +27 11 616-7401 Email: anamaria@pafsa.co.za The main IYOTSA event will be held on Secretaries Day at Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Gauteng, organized by PAFSA. Please contact us to reserve your seat on: +27 11 616-7401

careersuccess

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www.silveray.co.za

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News, Views And Reviews

LinkedIN What have Secretaries and PAs and Executive Assistants worldwide had on their minds lately?

Let’s peep in on the LinkedIn discussions and see … these are some of the topics:

On the ‘Boss’’ issue • Do you have access to your boss' calendar?

• Are you in a dysfunctional relationship with your boss?

• 10 tell-tale signs you have a terrible boss.

• Your boss, or your mentor? Why you should know the difference.

Sharing Advice • 5 ways to be more creative (in a noncreative job).

• Dealing with difficult people in an assertive way.

• Emotional maturity.

• How to be your own career coach.

• Office conversations you can't have on a friday.

• Putting the 'good' in 'goodbye'.

• Google+ hangouts on air - is your company making use of this tool?

• Don't get caught making these email mistakes.

• Mentally strong pas do not shy away from change.

• Bullies at work.

Career hot-buttons!

• 20 Jobs of The Future!

• Surprise! How to Get Ready for an Interview- In Less Than an Hour.

• Your job is no longer your job!

• Reasons to be glad you're a PA! • How to stay relevant and skilled?

• Trends affecting how we work.

• Top 10 things to be grateful for as an Administrative Professional in the 21st Century.

• Make way for Gen Z workers.

• The new rules of being professional

in the workplace.

Ageism • Are older workers hogging all the best jobs?

• Does your résumé scream out your age?

Some interesting questions • How do you take negative feedback?

• Do you ever get asked to start work BEFORE you have turned your computer on or have got your coat off? If yes, how do you deal with that?

• Are you a digital Assistant? What APPS do you find most useful in your role? How do you use Ipads in your role?

• Lunch hour - do you take yours?

• Why is it important to take breaks at work?

BOOKS

How valuable a PA are YOU? It’s important to realize that your success in whatever you do in business, or in life, for that matter, will always be determined by three things: 1. The need or demand for what you do; 2. Your ability to do it; and 3. The difficulty in replacing you.

In other words, how valuable are you and, the service you perform, to other people.

To illustrate this point, let’s apply our three-step formula to the job of an elevator operator.

In today’s world of pushbutton, selfoperated elevators, how much need is there for the job he or she performs?

Most people are qu i t e c a p a b l e careersuccess

of operating an elevator themselves. It doesn’t take much knowledge or training, so an operator can be replaced without much difficulty. As a result, elevator operators, if you can even find one, are not paid much.

Now, contrast the elevator operator and the money he or she commands with that of a professional cricket player, specifically a player that is good at batting. What is the need for what they do?

A look at attendance figures for cricket games will show that more than just a few fans are interested in watching what they do. Therefore, the need is obviously great.

How about the batsman’s ability to do what he does? Sports analysts say that the action of hitting a ball that is coming towards you at more than 100 kilometers per hour is the single most difficult movement in sports.

In the game of soccer, the target (the goal) doesn’t move. The same applies in golf – although the ball moves, the hole, or goal, remains stationary. In soccer, the goal for all the players is to advance the ball.

However, in cricket, it’s the batsman alone, trying to hit a small, moving target with his bat. It makes sense then, that the better or more often a batsman can hit the ball, the more he will be compensated.

Now, what about the difficulty in replacing a good batsman?

When the best batsmen in the world score consistently high scores, it doesn’t take long to realize why they are amongst the highest paid cricketers in the world.

This is an extract from "Creating Customers For Life" by Marcel Oudejans.

Contact Marcel on 087 150 4710; info@performancemarketing.co.za 

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careersuccess

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News, Views And Reviews

appraisals

12 performance evaluation traps to avoid When is your performance appraisal due?

Should your manager read this before it takes place; avoid these 12 common traps that have the potential to taint your performance evaluations: 1. Using stereotypes rather than first-hand observations (e.g. rating male employees higher than female employees in leadership skills based on gender alone).

2. Letting personal feelings influence the assessment (e.g. rating employees favourably because they are friendly with the manager outside of work; rating employees poorly because they've previously butted heads with the manager).

3. Rating all employees as average. Taking the easy way out will ultimately drive top performers away and encourage poor performers to stay at their same low performance level.

4. Inflating the ratings of poor performers.

Some managers assume an inflated rating will motivate employees to improve their behaviour. But most do so to avoid having a confrontation or because they don't know how to correct their employee's problem behaviour. Ignoring employee problems only allows the problems to grow.

5. Relying only on recent performance. The review should cover the entire review period (usually 12 months) and should address the employee's growth (or lack thereof) over that period.

6. Equating long tenure with positive performance. An assumption that an employee has been with the company for a long time because he/she is a good worker can be erroneous. Managers should be on the lookout for veteran employees who are actually stuck in a rut and may be content to simply "get by" instead of consciously

trying to excel.

7. Basing employee ratings on the manager's own ratings. Some managers assume that their status alone makes them the handsdown top performer in their department.

So if they receive an average overall rating, they will not let their employees' ratings exceed average.

8. Putting too much emphasis on how employees stack up against other employees rather than on how they fare against objective performance standards and expectations. Using forced rankings or ranking on a bell curve can result in good performers being unfairly rated as poor.

9. Failing to explain reasons for the ratings.

An appraisal form with no comment fields completed is unacceptable. So, too, are comments that aren't specific. Managers should always provide concrete examples that back up their ratings.

10. Making backhanded compliments, e.g. "You did a great job on the Tucker account, Jill, especially for your age."

11. Focusing on personal characteristics and not on behaviours. Managers are not supposed to be judging employees as human beings; they are to evaluate employees' job performance and workplace behaviours. Areas to focus on: time management skills, teamwork, professionalism, organizational skills, communication, judgment, job knowledge, initiative and dependability.

12. Interpreting motives behind behaviour, instead of just stating the behaviour, e.g.

"Shane isn't committed to the job. That's why he was late to work 21 times." Stick with objective facts.

Get a copy of your own Performance Appraisal Kit on bity.ly/KxRZPp

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PA F S A N e w s

IYOTSA

Three years ago Ana-Maria Valente of PAFSA Exco started working on the year 2014 as being the 30th anniversary of the first international year for the secretarial profession. It's now a reality

With 25 years experience in serving the secretarial community, our editor, Ana-Maria Valente wanted to bring a world-wide focus on the achievements of the secretarial profession and place a spotlight on its importance.

From our offices communications began with secretarial organisations worldwide to inform them and get their input on this initiative All information on PAFSA and IYOTSA is available on www.pafsa.co.za; @iyotsa2014 on Twitter IYOTSA2014 on Facebook and LinkedIn

A world-wide spotlight on celebrating your profession: a PAFSA initiative.

GET INVOLVED!

Tenda Events Contact details mobile: 082 566 6097 email: paula@lonehill.net

Professional Service you can rely on If you need help with sourcing venues or putting together conferences and need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will source the right venue for your strategy meeting, workshop or conference according according to the brief I am given. Taken into account when sourcing the right venue is, budget, location and any personal requirements in order to make your meeting a success.

I provide hands on personal service and my involvement in each event is dependent on the needs of each client. I am flexible and am able to source venues nationally and am also in a position to travel with each event should the need arise.

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L Y E A R

The year 2014 will be dedicated to the Secretary and Administrative Assistant - to be known as The International Year of the Secretary and Administrative Assistant: IYOTSA 2014

PROFESSION NEWS

GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS Whose idea was it to declare next year as IYOTSA? The initiative was thought of in the year 2010

by Ana-Maria Valente of Dictum Publishers in South Africa, when the first preparations were put in place. Secretarial organisations worldwide were first informed in early 2011.

Meanwhile, Dictum founded the association PAFSA, and IYOTSA 2014 was officially launched in 2013 at the PAFSA’s annual meeting (on Saturday 2nd March 2013).

The catalyst for this was the observation by the Professional Association for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (PAFSA) that in 1984 such an international celebration was organised by a US based secretarial body known as PSI (now IAAP) and that 2014 would mark its 30th anniversary. careersuccess

PAFSA re-established contact with close to 100 secretarial associations worldwide to keep them up to date with the plans of involving as many as possible in the international celebrations of the profession for 2014. A task team to head this initiative was established and its members are Anel Martin, Charlotte Massey-Hicks and Audetta Skosana.

How important is it that this is a global event?

With the advent of social media we have access to PAs from around the world and it makes sense that we connect, collaborate and address common issues using a global platform. We are amazed when you look at how the world of work has changed over the past 30 years and you see how the secretarial professional

Be part of a history-making event for your profession.

It's a life-time experience!

has not only adapted to change but fully embraced it.

The emergence of the technology-age in the mid-90s raised some questions around whether the job of the secretary would become obsolete. But, this has not happened. Rather, they have evolved their role to the next level and have become more business critical than ever! That is why we need to celebrate our profession globally and raise the profile of PAs worldwide, by engaging with governments, media and big business.

How much support have you had so far from global secretarial organisations and what types of activities can we look forward to?

We have had a wonderful response thus far, especially from the UK. Other countries who have pledged their support thus far are the United States, Portugal, Italy, France, Scotland, Greece, Canada, Bangalore, Russia, Nigeria and Gabon to name but a few.

Lucy Brazier from the Executive Secretaries Magazine in the UK has been appointed as a global representative of IYOTSA 2014. We also have Julie Perrine (from All Things Admin) and Kim Ellerbe who have been appointed as our US Representative.

We have started appointing ambassadors in each country that has signed up to give IYOTSA 2014 a local face and voice and we are thrilled to have them as part of the execution team. Lucy has been an enormous contributor to the project thus far in terms of getting support for IYOTSA by spreading the message worldwide. Many of our affiliates are already planning their own IYOTSA themed events, displaying our logo (so affiliates can find each other with ease).

In South Africa we have our official national launch taking place at the end of February 2014 and our gala event on the 4th September 2014. We are planning a web portal that will provide free webinar training and other materials as well as a monthly newsletter addressing some of the critical issues being faced by today’s PA and sharing the international events with the world.

How can PA/s Secretaries get involved?

Every office professional can assist us to make the International Year a success by promoting this initiative in their workplace, within their PA organisations, networking groups and in their own countries. If you are interested in participating please reach out to us on iyotsa2014@gmail.com for more information and some practical tips on how you can take part.

The simplest way you can contribute is by putting us in touch with people in your network to help us spread the

word and by hosting an IYOTSA themed event. We are also looking for contributors for our newsletter.

What are the biggest changes in the working lives of PAs/EAs over the last 30 years?

One of the most obvious changes is that fact that technology is more prevalent than ever and for a PA to be successful today he/she needs to be an early adopter of the new technology and also have some technical ability.

Due to the global economic crisis more and more PAs are working for multiple bosses or in pools. Technology and mobility has also blurred the lines between working time and leisure time, so it is my humble opinion that PAs are putting in more hours and working harder than ever before.

As office professionals they have also needed to develop resilience to cope with the rapid changes and challenges that they face in the modern working world. Some administrative assistants have even taken on tasks traditionally done by middle management (who were impacted by company downsizing) which have now become part of the PA job spec.

On the positive side of the coin, companies are increasingly willing to invest in talent acquisition and retention of top tier PAs, who are passionate, talented and enthusiastic. The modern PA has evolved into a business partner; it’s not just typing, tea and telephone anymore.

Are PAs given the recognition they deserve in the business world?

A personal assistant is an extension of the management team. PAs are the pivotal connection between an executive and the business' clients, staff and stakeholders – they have taken on more and more of the operational and staff management functions and manage to free up time for executives who work longer and harder than ever before. They are truly the boss’ second in charge but sadly very few are recognized as such.

Can you tell me a little more about PAFSA? PAFSA is the Professional Association for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. We are based in South Africa and have approx. 9000 members and growing. Our President of PAFSA is Anel Martin CAP-OM, Vice President is Teri Wells and the President of our extremely prestigious Academy of Excellence committee is Susan Engelbrecht. Our Task team members are Charlotte Massey-Hicks, Audetta Skosana and the PAFSA EXCO. For more details please contact: Anel Martin PAFSA President Email: iyotsa2014@gmail.com @iyotsa2014 on Twitter IYOTSA2014 on Facebook and LinkedIn Ana-Maria Valente Founder of IYOTSA 2014 Email: anamaria@pafsa.co.za Tel: +27 11 616-7401

IYOTSA 2014 - Q&A

FAQS 1. WHAT IS IYOTSA? IYOTSA is the ‘International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant’. It takes place in 2014. In 1984, a similar international celebration was organised by the PSI and 2014 marks its 30th anniversary. The 2014 celebrations are coming out of South Africa and aim to raise the profile of the role as a profession, rather than just a job, changing the perception of the secretarial role as purely a support role and explaining how businesses can best use those that are in the role.

2. WHO IS INVOLVED? Over 100 secretarial associations/organisations worldwide have requested information following an announcement that South Africa would like to organise an international celebration of the profession for 2014.

3. WHAT IS IYOTSA’S VISION FOR THIS YEAR LONG EVENT? The vision is that we change the world for Assistants all over the world next year so that they are recognised for the work that they do. Not just an inward exercise in self-congratulation, we want Assistants, their businesses, Associations, trainers and companies that support this sector to campaign for the recognition of this role as a profession.

4. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Did you know that a fifth of the world's working population works in Administration? That is a whole heap of people to be misunderstood.

For a number of years now, Assistants have been doing the roles of the middle management in addition to their own roles, because that layer of management was made redundant. Initially Assistants were told that that they would be taking on these tasks 'in the interim', most Assistants didn't get any training for these additional tasks or any extra money but did get an increase in workload of usually about 50% on top of what they were doing already. It makes it the perfect time to launch this campaign so businesses understand what the role is now. This year should be a celebration of the backbone of commerce.

We want to make businesses understand that the other companies that are using the role properly, they see their Assistants as far more that of a strategic business partner these days, rather than as a pure support mechanism.

5. WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL KICK OFF DATE FOR IYOTSA WORLDWIDE? IYOTSA runs from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2014

6. WILL WE SEE/ MEET ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIE S PARTICI PATIN G IN IYOT S A ?

There will be a website www.iyotsa.com which will keep you up to date with all activities and press surrounding IYOTSA. Your country Ambassador will cascade information down to us so we can put it on the website.

Events will also be listed as well as participating companies and Associations.

Watch this space for details of a very special international event for all Association representatives.

We would like to connect as many IYOTSA supporters as possible for the good of the profession.

7. WHAT MESSAGE DOES IYOTSA WANT THE MEDIA TO PROMOTE? There will be official Press Releases throughout the year and we are working on getting interviews with some high powered Assistants so we have something generic to send out but the key messages are above. At a local level, we are happy to give you freedom to promote the year in whatever way you see fit.

8. DOES IYOTSA HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE? IYOTSA has a Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/iyotsa2014 and presence on Twitter @IYOTSA14.

And on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups/ IYOTSA-2014-4975569 9. WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL MEDIA FOR IYOTSA? The South African quarterly magazine CareerSuccess (http://www.pafsa.co.za/index.asp?mid=76&mid2=274) available online, and a monthly newsletter sent to each organisation worldwide for distribution to its members.

10. IS THERE AN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PARTNER? Yes, the London based Executive Secretary Magazine. They have taken on the role of being the global ambassador for IYOTSA. 11. I WANT TO BE INVOLVED! WHERE CAN I GET INFO? On www.pafsa.co.za and the social media mentioned above.

Phone +27 11 616 7401

I YOT S A 2 0 1 4 - P L A N N E R F O R YO U - T H E PA For the first quarter of 2014: The International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

The Month’s Theme

The Month’s Theme

The Month’s Theme

The Month’s Theme

The importance of networking

Job descriptions and titles

The role of training in staying relevant

The value of team work

Inspiring Quote

Inspiring Quote

Inspiring Quote

Inspiring Quote

“Networking is not about just “Your job description should “Without continual growth connecting people. It’s about reflect where you are in your and progress, such words as connecting people with people, professional development; your job improvement, achievement, and people with ideas, and people with title should reflect where you are success have no meaning. (via Great opportunities.” - Michele Jennae in your career.” Ana-Maria Valente Minds)” - Benjamin Franklin

The Focus is On:

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” - Phil Jackson

The Focus is On:

The Focus is On:

The Focus is On:

Why networking can be a powerful performance enhancement tool as well as a quick way to enrich The PA’s knowledge bank.

Why job descriptions are an important map and mirror of PAs tasks and responsibilities.

The professional needs of PAs are to stay on par with, and better even abreast of, developments which affect the way they work, the way technology is going, and the way bosses need to support this growth.

The need for PAs to create a team culture around them This provides a support structure that can prove invaluable to their success!

The Aim of this Theme

The Aim of this Theme

The Aim of this Theme

The Aim of this Theme

Use networking to enhance the way PAs work and enhance the knowledge base of their “office”?

As professionals PAs will get clarity regarding the expectations executives have of them, and also strive to be given job titles which better reflect their evolved role.

The more efficient PAs are, the more effective executives will be - this requires a mind-set always eager to learn, but also requires the org to have the will and the budgets to ensure training/ up skilling is a priority.

Develop PAs interpersonal skills to ensure that they are successful in getting other team members or suppliers to achieve the necessary goals/tasks or outcomes.

The Challenge to be Met

The Challenge to be Met

The Challenge to be Met

The Challenge to be Met

Developing networks the oldfashioned way (events; rolodex; working a database) and embracing the new way: social media

Giving PAs job descriptions as a clear map of current tasks and responsibilities; getting a job title to mirror the level of responsibilities; update these in accordance with changes and circumstances evolving. .

Identifying what needs to be done to ensure that PAs are respected as still being relevant and essential? To the success of an executive. Ensuring that PAs themselves keep up to date all the time with rapid changes and innovations around them.

It is not always easy for people to work successfully within a team; sometimes personality types can hinder the success of a task or a project. Learning to work with and through different types of people is a truly important skill.

Activities

Activities

Activities

Activities

Activities can be planned month by month or take the quarter as whole. Choices are various; some suggestions made below: Having the CEO or HR director write a congratulatory letter to all PAs saluting them on the International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant (IYOTSA) Having a PA each month contribute an article on the month’s topic to the in-house newsletter/intranet Having special articles from experts on the each month’s theme sent to all PAs for their knowledge bank/ or the boss if applicable (keeping boss and PA motivated the year-through) Hold A Forum meeting where these topics can be aired and discussed and suggestions made.

Take the month’s theme quote and turn it into posters for noticeboards.

Have the in-house training dept. develop training modules around these themes Help PAs connect with another by creating an in-house help desk on an intranet Send a note to each PA on her/his birthday Run a survey among PAs asking them what their aspirations are - or - asking them for input on how they can enhance the efficiency of their executives.

Run a competition and offer prizes: Decide what the competition can be on

IYOTSA 2014 -PLANNER FOR THE EMPLOYER For the first quarter of 2014: The International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

The Month’s Theme

The Month’s Theme

The Month’s Theme

The Month’s Theme

The importance of networking

Job descriptions and titles

The role of training in staying relevant

The value of team work

Inspiring Quote

Inspiring Quote

Inspiring Quote

Inspiring Quote

“Networking is not about just “Your job description should “Without continual growth connecting people. It’s about reflect where you are in your and progress, such words as connecting people with people, professional development; your job improvement, achievement, and people with ideas, and people with title should reflect where you are success have no meaning. (via Great opportunities.” - Michele Jennae in your career.” Ana-Maria Valente Minds)” - Benjamin Franklin

The Focus is On:

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” - Phil Jackson

The Focus is On:

The Focus is On:

The Focus is On:

Why networking can be a powerful performance enhancement tool as well as a quick way to enrich The PA’s knowledge bank.

Why job descriptions are an important map and mirror of PAs tasks and responsibilities.

The professional needs of PAs are to stay on par with, and better even abreast of, developments which affect the way they work, the way technology is going, and the way bosses need to support this growth.

The need for PAs to create a team culture around them This provides a support structure that can prove invaluable to their success!

The Aim of this Theme

The Aim of this Theme

The Aim of this Theme

The Aim of this Theme

Use networking to enhance the way PAs work and enhance the knowledge base of their “office”?

As professionals PAs will get clarity regarding the expectations executives have of them, and also strive to be given job titles which better reflect their ev

The more efficient PAs are, the more effective executives will be - this requires a mind-set always eager to learn, but also requires the org to have the will and the budgets to ensure training/ up skilling is a priority.

Develop PAs interpersonal skills to ensure that they are successful in getting other team members or suppliers to achieve the necessary goals/tasks or outcomes.

olved role.

The Challenge to be Met

The Challenge to be Met

The Challenge to be Met

The Challenge to be Met

Developing networks the oldfashioned way (events; rolodex; working a database) and embracing the new way: social media

Giving PAs job descriptions as a clear map of current tasks and responsibilities; getting a job title to mirror the level of responsibilities; update these in accordance with changes and circumstances evolving. .

Identifying what needs to be done to ensure that PAs are respected as still being relevant and essential? To the success of an executive. Ensuring that PAs themselves keep up to date all the time with rapid changes and innovations around them.

It is not always easy for people to work successfully within a team; sometimes personality types can hinder the success of a task or a project. Learning to work with and through different types of people is a truly important skill.

Activities

Activities

Activities

Activities

Activities can be planned month by month or take the quarter as whole. Choices are various; some suggestions made below: Inform your boss about IYOTSA Inform your in-house journal editor of IYOTSA Inform your HR, Training and Communications Department Have the in-house Training Department develop training modules around these themes Inform your In-House Forum if there is one in your company Encourage having special articles from experts on the each month's theme sent to all PAs for their knowledge bank/or the boss if applicable (keeping boss and PA motivated the year-through) Hold a Forum meeting where these topics can be aired and discussed and suggestions made Take the month's theme quote and see if you can turn these into posters for noticeboards Create a scrapbook for the IYOTSA year recording special days, events, achievements etc.

Ask your executive to send a special message to all your stakeholders - informing them that 2014 is the International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant

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Key Feature

I have been thinking about writing an article that would share knowledge and describe pure positive motivation - Priscilla Bouwer

Motivation

From Rock BOTTOM TO THE TASTE OF SUCCESS

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n today’s lifestyle we are always met with deadlines, schedules, demands, unforeseen circumstances which, in conclusion, all results to ‘what we love most’ – STRESS!

and experience in my life. I have been blessed over and over again, and due to the choice of attitude toward it, I have grown into a woman who strives to add hope as well as have an impact on those around me.

Let’s look back in history at ourselves, our acknowledgement of where we have come from and what we have achieved. Let me share this with you…

I became a mother at a very young age, and when I say young – I mean young. I had decisions to make, one of which was, I had to give up school and stay at home to take care of my baby girl. She was born three days before I turned 15 years old. Did I say young?

Whilst very young and in the middle of high school, an unforeseen event happened in my life, which was very frightening, traumatic and scary. However the end result, ‘especially looking back now’, has been a valuable gift careersuccess

Whilst going through this stage in my life, and as the little one got bigger, cuter and more demanding in her own little way, I knew it was

Be thankful for what you have gone through; be grateful that you are here to make a difference

17 time to start preparing to provide for a little individual.

I decided to study for a Secretarial Diploma at the Kempton Park Technical College. With my Diploma in hand, I set out to make a career for myself and my bundle of joy, who needed a chance in life, and who just loved to make you smile. (I am so glad that she has remained my best friend, as today, she still makes me smile, and it was all worth it).

My first position was as a Receptionist for Scotpac International, where my boss was a woman, a dynamic woman who was also exceptionally strict and a perfectionist. She was not married at the time, had no children and was in her mid-40s.

There were many days where I went home in tears and with the idea of just giving up. I started wondering if I had chosen the right career for myself. (I used to ask myself: do I want to do something else instead? Are all the people out there so scary?)

With the passing of time, I found myself becoming a lot stronger, and decided to take whatever challenges or constructive criticism that came my way, and turn it into a positive well which would fill me with knowledge, strength and the thirst for even better and higher fills.

In experiencing many different industries over the years, I realised that there was one thing that I was attracted to all the time, and that was the goal of becoming an Executive Personal Assistant.

I befriended the successful people I admired and just wanted to spend time with them, learning the ropes and the skills and expertise. I badly wanted what they had!

I took the initiative to enrol in courses, seminars, purchasing motivational material, as well as ensuring that I harnessed valuable networking skills and techniques.

This I knew would be one of many important keys to assist me in reaching my dream.

Looking back over the years, having been knocked down, and grappling to get on my feet again, I can positively say that it fuels me to keep motivated and continue on the path I chose.

I thoroughly enjoy the profession I am in, and whenever given the opportunity, I promote this profession to young women that don’t yet know that they DO have the energy and potential to gain much more in life.

of you who are considering starting a career or who are considering leaving this particular profession, is to never give up. Endure all that comes your way – you can achieve – and you can have so much fun! Having sheer determination, guts, energy and the passion to grow will definitely help you face and enjoy the great things that can come your way.

A few years back, I took on the challenge of entering The Office Professional of the Year Award (in 2011) with a bit of reluctance however as I was rather comfortable and familiar within my zone and surroundings - having to get out of my circle of harmony ‘my safety net’ was a very big step for me to take. It was unfamiliar territory that I was entering: public speaking, mentoring, coaching – (never, this is not for me!) was what I thought.

I was blessed to get the title, and needless to say, this exciting turn in my life has afforded me to become the Executive Assistant of my dreams which has offered me opportunities as an international speaker, mentor and coach to other professionals. I reached a goal I never thought was possible. Wow, I have made amazing friends with many other professionals in Kenya, Malawi, Botswana, in and around in South Africa and now enduring new international waters.

In essence, the years of acquiring skills, expertise and knowledge; the opportunities to assist CEO’s, Managing Directors, CFOs and COOs in internationally renowned organisations; and having taken their advice, experience and direct coaching, ensured my growth!

I feel that this is a valuable lesson to share with you: look up to leaders in your circle; learn from them so as to create your own path to success.

I have come this far in life, without the benefit of a Matric Certificate or University Degree; with just simple hard work, dedication and perseverance!

It helped that I had a clear goal and a plan. What is your plan? Are you determined to achieve great things? What value do you want to add and what legacy do you want to leave behind?

If you have gone through tough times; experienced the unforeseen; have had traumatic events in your life that made you feel as though you just want to give up – my advice is, DON’T! No matter what comes your way, believe in yourself; believe that every day when you go into the office and face your boss, colleagues, customers (both internally and externally), that you have the world in the palm of your hand, waiting for you to shift it, manoeuver it.

Be thankful for what you have gone through; be grateful that you are here to make a difference; stay open-minded to accept and respect differences and diversity; and aim to be a leader in one way or another.

Always remember that you are YOU; there is nobody else quite like YOU – do something that only YOU can do to create a better world for yourself and others around you.

Executive Personal Assistants don’t just do the mundane office tasks any longer; we now have the diversity and capability and opportunities to utilise this very diverse role into greater heights, ‘it is up to us’ – this makes our role exciting and fulfilling.

So in sharing all this information what have I achieved? Well, a beautiful family of three children, an amazing husband, who shares many years of my success and growth, a career that I aimed to achieve and, last but not least, the privilege to be a lifetime member of reputable associations.

I suppose the message I would like to get across to those

So yes, I have made it. You can too!' issue

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Eyes on the World

Step out of your

and embrace excitement comfort zone

Teri Wells, PA of the Year 2012, back are our fear of what other people think and a lack of self-confidence. trend-spots for us.

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ersonal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Office Administrators etc. are no longer invisible. In days gone by we were "just" the voice on the telephone or the person who typed the correspondence, but never signed it. In the past we did what we were told with little, if any, initiative, responsibility or accountability.

In the modern workplace, however, we are expected to be more involved and contribute a great deal more than in the past. The personal benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone and claiming greater responsibility are immense. Within this zone you may begin to feel confined by boredom and overwhelmed by the fear of the unknown. You will forget the euphoric feeling you get from adventure and excitement if you don’t venture out.

The Terrible twins The two most common things holding us careersuccess

We don’t want to make a fool of ourselves and we don’t want others to think we are strange, rude, demanding or obnoxious. We want to be perfect when in truth, people relate better to those who "prove they are human" by making mistakes. Facing your fears and being willing to potentially embarrass yourself will inspire new ideas, create opportunities and build new relationships and alliances. Venturing out of your comfort zone will help build confidence and add some excitement to your daily routine. How? 1. You need to stop worrying about what other people think of you!

You are allowed to make mistakes, so stop projecting an image of perfection. Some of the most endearing people you have met in your life are the ones that you have laughed at and laughed with. Humanise yourself by occasionally letting others laugh at you, and learn to laugh with them.

I promise you, you will be fine.

2. Face your fears.

Throughout our careers we should continually evaluate whether we are letting our fear of failure keep us from engaging in the conversations, or taking the steps that will move us forward and make the impact we want. We have to decide whether or not to challenge existing conventions, try new methodologies, look for new challenges or simply

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manage those we already have. We have to decide to risk being exposed or protect our pride, to advertise our efforts or hope in silence that they will be noticed.

There is nothing wrong with proactively avoiding big fears to avoid negative situations, like the fear of enclosed spaces. You must, however, be wary of allocating significant time from your day to warding off things that may never happen. If you allow yourself to deal with a little discomfort, some of the smallest things could turn into great adventures.

These adventures bring back excitement and build the confidence to take on greater challenges. Of course, not all the risks you take will work out but as John F. Kennedy once said, "Nothing worthwhile has ever been accomplished with a guarantee of success."

Only by being willing to make mistakes and try something new will you ever accomplish more than what has been done before.

3. Learn to become comfortable with taking risks.

Your comfort zone is comfortable because you know what to expect. Venturing outside that zone will produce either success or failure

and you must focus only on the moment and not on the possible outcome. It may go wrong, but you need to learn from it and move on.

Obsessing about small failures opens you up to disappointment and frustration and may prevent you from learning important lessons. It is in "moving on" that we learn how to avoid making that same mistake again.

The mixture of anticipation and anxiety will make your heart flutter and stomach turn at the same time, but only in giving up the security of your comfort zone can you grow the confidence to take on bigger challenges in the future.

4. Don’t let stumbling blocks and mistakes define you.

Unfortunately in our careful and competitive world, there is little success in playing it safe.

Crucial to your success in work and life is your willingness to embrace the discomforts that come with stepping out of your comfort zone. The people who have already achieved extraordinary success "stepped out" and those still to come will certainly not be people who hid from risk. They will be people who have been willing to risk failure or looking foolish, aware that the biggest risk they take is not taking any risks at all. Will you be one of them?

John F. Kennedy once said, “Nothing worthwhile has ever been accomplished with a guarantee of success.”

Only by being willing to make mistakes and try something new will you ever accomplish more than what has been done before. . issue 3

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Annual PA PA Summit Annual Summit 2013 Pictorial 2012 Pictorial ReReview aview

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the theme:

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get the x-factor

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PA o f t h e Ye a r 速

Secretaries Day Lunch 2013 Pictorial Review

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The coveted PA of the Year® title goes to Zimkitha Mbane of UNISA Zimkitha Mbane, PA to Dr Majid Mahomed an executive director at UNISA, received the prestigious title of South Africa’s PA of the Year 2013. After undergoing a 3rd round of judging, Zimkitha’s victory was announced on Wednesday 4th September at the Secretaries Day Gala Lunch held at Emperors Convention Centre!

Zimkitha said that she is humbled and honoured by the accolade. She gives the credit to her colleagues, family and friends, whose support made all this possible. She also acknowledges the five other finalists and is looking forward to working with them on the journey to provide support to the profession through the association PAFSA. Asked about her job as a PA, she explained: "As the face of the Department: Study Material, Production and Delivery, I have the opportunity to show how we care in support of my boss’s e-mail signature slogan: ‘We care’. As the Personal Assistant to Dr. Majid Mahomed, the Executive Director: SMPD, I not only report to him, but also serve the Directors, Managers and staff of the respective Directorates. This responsibility allows me to deal with all kinds of personalities, which is often a challenge. But, in interacting with my colleagues I am guided by the university’s service model, the 11Cs +1 namely, communication, conversation, conservation, community, connection, care, collegiality, commitment, co-operation, creativity and consultation and courage. This guides my daily interaction with my colleagues. My job further requires me to be true to myself and to outwardly express servant leadership and gratitude towards every individual."

Anel Martin PA of the Year® 2011 (L) ; Zimkitha Mbane PA of the Year® 2013 (C); Teri Wells PA of the Year® 2012 (R)

PA of the Year® finalists from left to right: Zimkitha Mbane, Tebogo Masike, Michelle Thwaits, Lizelle Gilliland, Bronwyn Venter, Angie ORsmond

On hearing the news her boss said: "I am elated at the recognition given to Zimkitha. Her focused work ethic and desire to succeed at everything she does puts her in good stead to climb to greater heights in her career path. Her humility and her diligence makes her stand apart".

Oganised by the Professional Association for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (PAFSA) this Award has gained significant footprint in South Africa’s working landscape.

The head of the Award’s committee, Rene Potgieter said: "I take this opportunity to congratulate all PAs who were nominated by their peers to this Award – this is in fact the greatest achievement of all, that of being recognised by your peers! The PA of the Year® Award is honoured to attract so many entries from South Africa’s workplaces! Each year it gets more difficult to elect the six finalists. I congratulate this year’s top six and it is my wish to see them become rolemodels of excellence in attitude and aptitude."

The PA of the Year®, and the finalists, received prizes from various prizegivers and sponsors, with Emperors Convention Centre being the Platinum sponsor.

The Judges for the 2013 PA of the Year® Award:

The prizes for the 2013 finalists and titlebearer issue

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PA o f t h e Ye a r ®

We inter view

Zimkitha Mbane

PA OF THE YEAR ® 2013 Each day is different and a learning experience for me CS: What does the title "South Africa’s PA of the Year®" mean to you?

ZM: As South Africa’s PA of the Year, I see myself as the face of my ED’s portfolio, Unisa, and PAFSA and therefore understand the role I have to fulfil in maintaining a culture of serving others with humility, tolerance and an open mind. I also find it important to facilitate an atmosphere where staff, including Directors, Managers and ordinary staff, reporting to Dr Mahomed are comfortable and free to contact the office of the ED and where they can confidently trust that I will attend to their respective requests with the necessary confidentiality and professionalism..

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CS: Who was the first person to congratulate you?

ZM: My colleagues from Unisa (Theresa, Lele, Marina and Berdine) who were attending the event and sitting next to me.

CS: Who was the first person you phoned from the function or after the function to tell them you had become the title bearer?

ZM: I tried to call my boss, Dr. Mahomed (who nominated me) but because he was in Israel, I could not get through to him but I sent an sms; then I called my husband who acted as if he knew that I was going to win. My colleagues

25 who were with me called their bosses and one of them Mr. Bagus called me back to congratulate me.

CS: How did your office/company react to the news?

ZM: The news was first shared within my Department - they were so ecstatic and proud. After it was posted on the Unisa website, the article received lots of comments within the institution as well as outside. The journalist that posted it sent an e-mail saying "it’s getting a lot of attention and quite a few comments; I think the most we’ve received for an article thus far" CS: How do you see yourself enhancing the secretarial profession in S.A.?

ZM: Working as a PA in an institution for Higher Learning is often challenging because the core business is teaching, learning and research. Development therefore is more focused on the academics than on PAs who are often seen as diary managers or telephone managers or typists. I thought of starting a PAs or Office Professionals Forum within Unisa that will educate and that will give PAs the recognition they deserve.

CS: Do you think the title "PA" should be changed to Executive PA when the PA works for the top executives?

And why?

ZM: Personally, whether you are a Secretary, PA or an EPA, the important thing is to know what your role is and what is expected of you.

CS: Describe a typical day in your office.

ZM: Each day is different and a learning experience for me. I leave work knowing that tomorrow’s tasks are planned, but my boss always has other plans for me.

I will be at work at 07:30 depending on what time our first meeting is and leave at 16:30 depending on meetings and workload.

First thing I do is check the diary, documents and e-mails.

Most of my days are spent in meetings, planning sessions and planning events. If I do not have meetings, then I will be doing admin work or following up on outstanding issues.

My boss involves me in everything that he is doing. This broadens my scope and also gives me insight into the entire study materials supply chain. I always say to people my boss believes that when something is done it has to be done by me and he believes that I can do it and be everywhere!

CS: Where to from here?

ZM: As I made a conscious decision to dedicate myself to this profession within my institution and to SA’s Secretaries, PAs, etc. I believe that God will know as far as I can go. I will avail myself for whatever path He carves out for me. I will go through this path with pride, passion confidence and determination. issue

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Boss of the year ® AWARD The scroll of honour for 2o13 the seven Finalists were: Ayanda Nakedi, Senior General Manager at Eskom Nominated by Ezekiel Thuntsane Attributes most admired: "Ayanda Nakedi provides a nurturing, bottom-up approach to her leadership ensuring people are driven by a common vision. She creates an environment that is conducive to learning and exposes the team to a diverse set of global external business environments which has facilitated growth of individual team members".

Duncan Stewart, Managing Director of Lima Rural Development Foundation Nominated by Sandra Badenhorst Attributes most admired: "Duncan is a fair and energetic boss. He is open-minded, approachable and always ready to listen, support and guide. He is sympathetic towards his staff through their times of difficulty, but at the same time maintains a level of respect and professionalism. Duncan is a very optimistic person with an amazing sense of determination which is infectious".

Erik Venter, CEO of Comair Nominated by Vuzile Kelepi: Attributes most admired: "Mr Venter is innovative and ensures that our company is a market leader in our respective industry. He is an honest and transparent leader and when the aviation industry wasn’t doing well, due to global recession, he advised us about the situation and how it is going to impact on us - we got out of the dry season and we were rewarded with bonus incentives for a very successful year”. careersuccess

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Jo-Ann Pohl, CFO Africa at Standard Chartered Bank Nominated by Audetta Skosana Attributes most admired: "Jo-Ann is an inspiration; she is passionate about what she does which motivates us to want to do more. She leads by example; she delivers on her promises, and takes time to listen and talk to people across all levels. Jo believes that the most important resource in a company are people - She her team knows that they can count on her support at any time".

Stefan Boll, the General Manager at Abbott Laboratories Nominated by Gift Maruwa Attributes most admired: "Stefan’s transparency and honesty. His open door policy which encourages good relations at work. He is a very determined individual and achieves great results. Steffan recognises the team’s input with great incentives; he has great a sense of humour and is a people’s person, able to communicate well with everyone".

Theo Vincent Bench, Managing Executive: Sales & Marketing at Telkom /Cybernest Nominated by Tammy Naick Attributes most admired: "Theo has a natural charisma - with infectious enthusiasm. He visits all his staff every morning and greets each one, making all feel special. Theo started a Thursday "Star Bucks" Coffee & Muffin Session, where the staff meet in the lounge area and air their views and speaks openly. He’s a fair and honest leader".

Xolile George, CEO of the South African Local Government (SALGA) Nominated by Gabby Khanyile Attributes most admired: "Mr George is a humble leader but with a remarkable intelligence and judgement, and most critically, an immense capacity to care. Because he gives recognition unselfishly and sincerely to others and leads by example, he deserves to be recognized for the impact he has made on so many lives, directly and indirectly". issue

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B o s s t h e Y e a r 速 Award

Boss of the year 速 AWARD banquet LUNCH on 19 November 2013 at SPAZE in Sandton

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B o s s t h e Ye a r 速

We inter view

AYANDA NAKEDI

Boss of the YEAR 速 2013 CS: Congratulations once again Ayanda! Eskom must be very proud of you. Share with us what your first thoughts and feelings were!

AN: Eskom invests a lot in its leaders and I guess this is a payoff for the company. I am grateful to the team

that recognized traits or attributes which foster solidarity, development and selflessness, both at work and in our own private lives. Lastly I am grateful to God Almighty for this award.

CS: You thanked the Almighty in your speech, saying He had given you a second chance in life! Has this second chance made you the sensitive leader you are today?

AN: Yes it has, my perspective on life in general is different.

Having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and I honestly believe this award has confirmed that I must continue to live so that I can uplift those around me and make sure they are successful in their endeavours. We should strive to focus on the essential nature of people.

Our mortality should humble us, so let us contribute to this life for the benefit of many and not just to our selfish self.

CS: What else in your background has prepared you for a leadership position?

AN: Many experiences and situations prepared me for leadership. I was conscious of some, I had deliberately exposed myself to others, and I was not aware that some will translate to my development. I am indebted to parents who put me through school, grateful to a great organization that offered many of us opportunities to develop ourselves, thankful to colleagues who have been supportive and, appreciative of failures from which I learnt invaluable lessons.

CS: When you need to get motivated yourself, where or who do you turn to?

AN: Apart from drawing inspiration from within oneself, one draws from portals of wisdom and knowledge ranging from literature, seek guidance from those who have travelled paths, drawing encouragement from those who want me to stretch my limits and face adversity squarely.

CS: Do you find that having to travel abroad on business

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creates specific challenges for you as a leader?

AN: The true value of your team is seen when one is away on a business trip and the business needs to continue to run as if you are in the office. This is therefore not a challenge for me. Travelling abroad and learning from industry equals, pioneers and leaders complement capacity. Besides getting to compare our competencies, we seek improvement areas, and at times become aware of unique capabilities we ignore or neglect or underestimate, which are unique and invaluable to the organizations.

CS: As a high achiever leading a hectic life, how do you achieve balance in your life?

AN: I am still in the process of achieving work life balance and hope that I will never reach a static point. A supportive family, friends and social network is important and must complement work-life. We need to delegate in order to optimize resources and intelligence, and entrust people with performance and authority. At times I let go of work completely and go on holiday to recharge to avoid burn-out thus becoming ineffective.

CS: What message would you give young workplace leaders regarding their roles in today’s workplace?

AN: Leaders need to know their innate character and the character they want an organization to have. Classical leadership in the workplace requires visionary strategy, competence, empathy and operational excellence. These ingredients contributes to authenticity of a workplace.

We should expect to be vulnerable as it is through this vulnerability that will converse our strength and limitations as leaders. Lastly the leaders must become servants and be willing to give for a good cause without a personal gain. Leaders must sacrifice but remain resolute.

CS: Ayanda, we wish you continued success!ď‚°

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Career Matters

We are all responsible for our own happy sandpits The bottom line is this: You cannot abdicate responsibility for your own happiness. If employees are unhappy where they are, they too must elect to do something about it.

Whether that means attempting to change things or simply walking away altogether to find somewhere new to be is a matter of circumstance, but there is absolutely no sense whatsoever in perpetuating unhappiness – yours or anyone else’s. Colin J. Browne

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e each have an individual role to play and an impact on the Sandpits that make up our daily lives. We have responsibilities for the happiness that defines them and we’re all accountable when that happiness fails. If a Happy Sandpit becomes an unhappy one, everyone involved carries a part of the blame. careersuccess

That gives us all work to do. Unfortunately this stuff doesn’t come easy. I believe though that building a Happy Sandpit should be seen as the greatest use of our efforts in the workplace. As I sign off therefore, let’s take a look at what the ideal situation should look like for employees.

Work is generally just too hard if you’re not able to absolutely love it.

Your responsibility as an employee is no less important than the role of leadership. The final word on this topic is that if you’re unable to offer your best efforts and be recognised for them, you’re conning yourself if you think you can be happy for the long term. It doesn’t matter what the financial perks of your job are.

I have never seen a fully-engaged employee who also doesn’t feel at a very deep level that what they’re doing is valuable. If you’re not in that position, it’s time to move and fast.

I have personally found myself in positions of employment in the past where I took the job because I needed the money, and there isn’t a

33 single instance where that has worked out. In fact, despite the fact that I was putting food on the table, boredom and despair were my most common feelings. It’s a lousy place to be.

On the other hand, I spent years as a relatively underpaid journalist, loving what I did. While those around me acquired better cars, bigger homes and better clothes, I had the freedom and the daily excitement that I required and never once felt it was a compromise. It’s different for everyone of course. Money may be your biggest driver. Perhaps you’re willing to bear the cross of a terrible employer in order to gain experience.

Every thing is good and everything makes sense as long as you have a purpose In an ideal world, that purpose would link very tightly with the purpose of your employer and you’d be able to make your living and gain experience while you helped to build it.

If that’s not the case, however, my strongest advice is that you at least make sure your job is one that is possible to enjoy – otherwise find a company with a culture that you can fit in.

The Sand Kicker in our midst During the interviews I conducted as part of writing the book How to Build A Happy Sandpit I covered the subject of prima donnas, those self-appointed Kings (or Queens) of the Castle, and since they are the people who typically bear all the characteristics of Sand Kickers, allow me to say a few words about them.

I have a suspicion, born of many years of experiences in dealing with people, that when problems arise in the workplace, employers and employees alike generally know precisely who is to blame. There was no ambiguity about this in the case of the Sand Kicker who launched the Happy Sandpit research.

When that Sand Kicker has a particularly strong personality, as prima donnas often do, it can drive leaders to act in ways that make no sense just to try to appease them.

Stoned Cherries’s Nkhosi says that she can do most of her job in her sleep, except for the tough job of managing people. "I had a store in Rosebank and I used to hate having to walk in there until I thought wait a minute. I own

it. It’s my store," she says.

Sand Kickers are people who organisations all across the Happy Sandpit research deal with and that means you probably do too. But what to do about them?

Trevor Ormerod of Times Media Group brought the balance by judging the work done by two groups of people, both of which achieve very different results for the business, on an equal basis. "It takes the same amount of work to generate R800-million in full page ad sales as it does to generate R50million in small ad sales [on leading newspapers such as the Sunday Times]. If they exceed their targets by a certain percentage, they earn the same amount." He says that balances out the prima donna effect of national sales with its bigger revenue haul.

For Werksmans, the Sand Kicker effect was much greater and ultimately required a management stand which saw an important section of the company rise up and walk away en masse. "We had a walk out here in November 2011 by a group of eleven in one particular division because the two main individuals there felt that they weren’t having enough say in the remuneration of their team members … I promise you, when they left, the atmosphere changed overnight. There was so much tension in the six months leading up to it that you could feel it dissipate … I think what people learn from that is nobody is indispensable … It’s been a great 18 months and people realise we can survive that."

There’s one important reason I mention all this. If we go back to the original analogy of the little sod who won’t share the bucket and spade or who thinks it’s okay to kick sand in someone else’s face, are you certain that doesn’t describe you?

If you’re alive at all, you probably like to agitate a little bit and that’s probably no bad thing.

Every organisation needs fresh thinking. But Sand Kickers are a little different. Sand Kickers are people who simply do not belong. That is, they belong somewhere, just not where they are. Because they don’t fit in, they can overturn the happiness of even the Happiest Sandpits, and that’s something we’re all wrong to ignore.

We are all responsible for the happiness of the Sandpits in which we operate and that’s the final word.

I have a suspicion, born of many years of experiences in dealing with people, that when problems arise in the workplace, employers and employees alike generally know precisely who is to blame. issue

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Future Careers

THE 20 JOBS OF THE FUTURE “60% of the best jobs in the next ten years haven’t been invented yet.� - Thomas Frey

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n the past, careers were stable, linear and singular. People chose one path and pursued it over the course of their lives from college to retirement.

In our modern age of technology driven exponential change - this model no longer works.

Careers are now complex, fragmented, specialized, collaborative and ever evolving.

More often than not, our work life will be made up of a portfolio of micro-careers.

This article will show you a snapshot of 20 careers that will likely come of age in the next 10 years. Some of these jobs exist now, but will come into greater demand soon. Others do not exist yet, but through our daily scanning of future fringe signals we see strong potential in their emergence.

1. Productivity Counselors: With the emphasis on productivity and "making a difference," coupled with new tracking

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technologies, people will need help refining their lives to improve their productivity, combining ergonomics, wellness, time management and career counseling.

2. Personal Digital Curator: A specialist that recommends and maintains your unique suite of apps, hardware, software and information sources for your evolving personality and career.

3. Microbial Balancer: A trained balancer that assesses the composition and microbial makeup of an environment or individual and provides recommendations for balancing ecosystems for enhanced health.

4. Corporate Disorganizer: An expert that shuffles hierarchies in companies to create start-up culture or organized chaos.

5. Curiosity Tutor: A personal advisor that not only provides inspiration and content to spark curiosity, but one that teaches the art of discovery.

6. Alternative Currency Speculator: As Bitcoin and other virtual currencies are gaining traction with people who

35 distrust Fiat currency; this is creating an opportunity for alternative currency arbitrage and investment opportunities.

7. Urban Shepherd: A combination of resilient micro-farmer and guide to the nature-filled side of the city. These plant care specialists focus on small-scale gardens and plots that exist in unusual urban areas.

8. Printing Handyman: A neighborhood materials and 3D printing specialist, akin to the "do it all" local repair man of the past who comes to you to fulfill your micro-manufacturing needs.

9. Digital Death Manager: A specialist that creates, manages or eliminates content to craft ones online presences posthumously.

10. Personal Life Log Archivist: In the age of the completely archived life, there will be a need for AI experts to organize, catalog and make sense of the volumes personal content and to identify potential uses for one's life log.

11. Digital Detox Therapist: A counselor who specializes in separating technology stressed individuals from their devices, creating unique analog immersion zones.

12. Crowdfunding Specialist: A expert on sites like Kickstarter and Indigogo who understands how to promote and attain funds for a project through crowd funding.

13. Cultural Skill Sherpa: Like a financial advisor, this "pivot professional" helps clients develop and acquire the skills to prepare for positions that are one of a kind, emergent or newly relevant.

pursuing traditional educational paths.

17. Privacy Consultant: This consultant reveals vulnerabilities in an individualĘźs personal, physical, and online security points.

18. Skype Staging: Hired career advisors that prepare and help an individual work through remote interviews or video conferencing, including etiquette, appearance and conversational skills.

19. Meme Agent: Similar to a celebrity or talent agent, a Meme Agent represents and maximizes the value of the personality or intellectual property used in a meme.

20. Drone Driver: Expanding outside of the military, as demand for commercial and private drone use increases, experienced drone drivers (especially those with urban experience) will be sought after.

Sparks & Honey tracks and analyzes thousands of cultural data sources in real time, incorporating live data feeds from numerous APIs as well as hundreds of offine sources. Using a proprietary Culture Mapping Platform, they monitor cultural bursts, identify clusters of activity and trends, score their energy levels, project their lifespans and analyze their cultural resonance. This intelligence helps brands understand and connect with popular culture in order to make more strategically informed business decisions.

Sign up on their website to receive updates and future reports: sparksandhoney.com ď‚°

Careers are now complex, fragmented, specialized, collaborative and ever evolving.

More often than not, our work life will be made up of a portfolio of microcareers.

14. Quantified Self Personal Trainer: A health trainer who not only recommends and curates diets, but also analyzes personal and fitness routine data to create optimum personal life choices.

15. Vicarious Videographer: Like a Task Rabbit for experiences, the VV captures unique experiences (via life logging devices Google Glass/GoPro) for consumption by armchair explorers.

16. Hackschooling Counselor: This counselor encourages students to hack the real world and experiment with life rather than only issue

3

Are you?

• Committed to helping anyone • Between 18-45 years old • In general good health (not at risk of contracting hepatitis or sexually transmitted diseases) • Preferably but not essentially a blood donor • Do you weigh over 50kg and with a BMI <35 www.facebook.com/TheSunflowerFund careersuccess

www.twitter.com/SunflowerFund

37

Interview

AMeet a member of the academy of excellence In this edition the member of PAFSA's Academy interviewed is SIMON MANYAMA AoE: In which of the national competitions did you reach the finals or win and in what year?

SIMON: In 2012 Advocate Empie van Schoor, Chief Director in Legislation unit of the National Treasury nominated me for the PA of the Year 2012 Award. I was successful in getting to the top six.

AoE: What is your current position?

SIMON: I am a Personal Assistant to Advocate Empie van Schoor.

AoE: What in your opinion is your personal area of excellence or specialization?

SIMON: To provide an excellent comprehensive support to the work of the National Treasury by continuously fulfilling my responsibilities efficiently. I feel very positive about my contribution and that my performance contributes to positive work delivery results.

AoE: Who is your role model and why?

SIMON: My role model would be someone who endeavors

to champion the cause of poverty and decline in living standards. We cannot turn a blind eye to the sad realities affecting so many people around us - how can we look away and pretend that they don’t affect us!

AoE: What do you do for fun?

SIMON: I follow a healthy lifestyle by running regularly and competing in events and also participating in church activities.

AoE: Tell us something interesting about yourself?

SIMON: I am a people’s person who is driven by passion to achieve professional goals - and I also dedicate time to prayers and meditate on their meaning.

AoE: What does it mean to you to be a member of the Academy of Excellence?

SIMON: Being a member of such a prestigious community inspires me to stay committed to this profession.

AoE: What do you think is the biggest benefit of the national competitions for PAs and Office Professionals?

SIMON: It also motivates companies to recognise the profession, and the key thing is that it recognises deserving PAs. AoE: What career advice would you give your younger self?

SIMON: It takes time to build a brand. Through hard work, commitment and dedication, you aspire to be the best amongst the best.

The Academy of Excellence is the home of award winning PAs and Office Professionals. Membership is exclusive to PAs who reached the upper echelons of the national awards for the profession in South Africa.

Being invited to join the Academy is a sign that you have achieved a level of excellence in your profession and it is a great honour to form part of this elite group. The ethos of this group is one of humility, professionalism and a sincere dedication to skills development in the profession and within the companies.

For more information on the Academy visit www.pafsa.co.za and click on the Academy button issue

3

Lunch Hour

Test your

Wits and have Fun

Try these brain teasers… brainfun Puzzle 1 What kind of tree can you carry in your hand?

Puzzle 2 If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven't got me. What am I? Puzzle 3 Take off my skin - I won't cry, but you will! What am I?

brainbasher There was a green house. Inside the green house there was a white house. Inside the white house there was a red house.

Inside the red house there were lots of babies. What is it?

gotcha puzzle What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?

brainteaser What can you catch but not throw?

Source: www.brainbashers.com

careersuccess

Spot the difference

Puzzle 1 A palm • Puzzle 2 A secret • Puzzle 3 An onion • Brainbasher A Watermelon. • Gotcha Puzzle A Stamp• Brainteaser A cold

38

The fineliner in 25 colors:the STABILO point 88.

www.silveray.co.za