Victoria Parker

What educational qualifications do you insist on / Do you require your PA to have a degree?

I’m looking for a college graduate, but beyond that I do not believe there should be a specific degree requirement to be a PA; I always have felt that it comes down to intellectual curiosity and dedication.  A great PA can have a major in Theatre or Chemistry .  The more important question for me is “Is this someone who I trust?”.  I look for someone to be a self-starter, confident, with a strong interest in the film, theatre industry.

Would you agree that behind every great business leader is a great PA?

While I don’t usually like to make those sorts of generalizations, what I do believe is that in order to achieve your full potential in the sphere of business, learning to manage and delegate are the most important skills.  Finding someone whom you can trust with all elements of your personal life is the ultimate in a trusting working relationship, as it is handling what is most dear to you.  So if you have someone in your life who can share that responsibility, I think it renders you much, much more effective. So in answer to your question, yes I do agree.

What makes a great PA over a competent PA?

A competent PA is one who does what is told and can make mistakes, but learns to resolve them going forward.  A great PA is always 20 steps ahead of me, anticipating my day, my week, my year, understanding my priorities without needing to be explained, and someone who can help solve problems and doesn’t take no for an answer.  That is how I was trained, and therefore it’s how I approach all aspects of my work life.  Also, how you handle a mistake is another key trust builder. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s how you communicate it and how you resolve it that can help build the right sort of working relationship. If someone tries to cover up a mistake they have made, it erodes all trust and makes me question them on every front and it’s a big no-no for me.

How you handle a mistake is another key trust builder. Everyone makes mistakes, but it’s how you communicate it and how you resolve it that can help build the right sort of working relationship.

Do you think the importance of emotional intelligence in a PA is sometimes overlooked for a strong skill set?

Yes, I think it’s an important skill in life period, and one you usually can’t teach.  Ranging from choosing the right moment to bring something up, and when not to, to a sense of compassion and looking out for my well being. As my representative and ambassador in the work place, from a phone call, to greeting someone at the office, I want someone to represent me upholding my style and values, and it requires an instinctual understanding of who you are working for.

Would you agree that chemistry is the key ‘ingredient’ for a successful long term working relationship between the PA & Principal?

Absolutely.  A working relationship between a PA and Principal will always have a learning curve involved.  Both will need to understand each other’s ways of working and communicating.  At the end of the day, if there’s no chemistry, the work simply does not get done well and the two are left stranded.