Every 5% makes you an even better PA - Here's why

By Ruth Grosvenor 

Ruth Grosvenor has been PA to the Director of Housing at Bromford Group for over 6 years. Her role entails looking after a busy Director’s diary, workload, and life! Before working for a Housing Association, Ruth worked for a large hotel chain, undertaking a similar role. 

I recently attended our PA Academy and took on the challenge to be 5% better at everything…. and have since begun to see a difference in the work that I do. To start with, I found it a little difficult to actually determine the difference between ‘doing my job’ and then making myself 5% better at ‘doing my job.’ Now that I have been working this way for a few weeks, giving that little bit extra comes much more naturally in all that I do. 5% more, is now the norm….

As all PA’s know, no two days are ever the same and there are always a number of different tasks to undertake on a daily basis. I recently returned from a week’s annual leave and decided to check my emails on Tuesday evening because I was going to be back in the office from the following day and I always like to see what I have missed and give myself an idea of what I am going back to.

I found a flurry of emails from my manager who was due to be in Birmingham for a meeting on Wednesday morning. After reading through my emails from her, I proceeded to text her to let her know I would work from our Birmingham office (instead of my usual base) to enable us to catch up. I could tell from the emails there was loads going on for her and thought it would be useful for us to be in the same place at the same time, to chat through anything she needed to. I also anticipated that the meeting she had in the morning would be quite ‘heavy’, so I went to the local coffee shop and got a latte for her before she arrived at the Birmingham office.

When she returned from her meeting, there was a coffee waiting for her and we were able to chat through what had been happening over the last week, the emails she had sent me and what was going on with her both at work and in her personal life. Just doing something simple like changing where I was working so I could be with my boss – that extra 5% - made my job easier, as it meant I knew what was going on with her and it made her feel as ease because she then knew I was aware of everything that was going on, what her priorities were and how I could help make things happen for her.

I quite often change what I am doing to be flexible in supporting my boss and that 5% extra makes all the difference, and sometimes without actually taking the time to think about how you could give 5% extra you can actually give it by making very simple changes but these changes could just as easily be missed even though they could be making you an even better PA.

Remember, you can be 5% better by doing that 5% extra so don’t stop at being 100% when you could be 105%. 

 

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Comments

[Sue Penny]

To improve by 5% is an achievable target that will make a huge difference to every aspect of our lives - great blog Ruth and looking forward to your next one!

[susiegbromford]

Great blog Ruth, and, some excellent points well made.

[Deb Freeth]

Such a great read Ruth and so very true!! Giving 5% more isn't that much - something that seems so small (like the Latte) can make such a huge difference! Well done you for taking on the challenge and making those changes.

[Belinda Thompson]

Another thought provoking blog, Ruth! Well done!

[Amy Hughes]

Great blog Ruth! Always handy for me (being a new PA) to pick up some tips and see what to aim for! :)

[Mandy]

Looking forward to your next blog Ruth! Thanks for being a great colleague too!