As part of the International Year of the Secretary/Assistant 2014, participating organisations are developing themes for their members in order to raise awareness of Secretaries and Assistants throughout the world… This month is:

Leadership skills for the Secretary/Admin Assistant

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. – John Quincy Adams

On paper, this theme doesn’t seem relevant to VAs in the same way it would be relevant to a traditional PA working in a big company… But as a business owner, you are the leader for your company.  And you lead your clients into following your way of working.  And you (hopefully) help other VAs along the way… They look up to you as an experienced VA.

So the set of soft skills that you need, does include leadership skills.  Rather than getting an expert in this month, I wanted to open the doors to you demonstrating this in action:-

• Organise a networking event for small business owners in your home town
• Invite another VA for coffee
• Contact a local blogger and offer to help them with one hour free for 6 months in posting and updating their wordpress site
• Volunteer your services to your local community group – it doesn’t matter what it is, but make sure it’s a project you own and are responsible for

Lastly, let me know how you got on…