The Margin was intrigued by news of a series of one-day seminars to help personal assistants who want to become more competent. On offer to assistants and secretaries "who want to increase their value to their managers and earn greater respect and credibility" is the effective "hot spot" approach for keeping their managers informed.

They will be shown how to read the five non-verbal signals that managers send, how to get approvals and signatures "without nagging" and how to respond when their manager is criticised. They will also learn how to become the personal assistant that every manager wants as well as "three little known facts you must remember when handling your manager's personal affairs". The seminar run by Padgett Thompson will reach Dublin on September 26th. Can't wait.