There are undoubtedly going to be some challenges that arise out of this new way of working, which is why we've collated our top five resources to help you keep pace with the demands, and find methodical ways of getting through the workload as efficiently as you would have in normal circumstances – maybe even better!
Project Management Tools
For project management, tools like Asana, Trello and Basecamp are all great ways to get a holistic overview of progress in each project. These tools help to track current and planned projects, assign different aspects to specialist team members, and can help you keep an eye on how much time is being spent on each part of the project. Using these platforms can help you streamline your day and plan ahead weeks in advance and alleviate a lot of the worry that comes with last minute deadlines.
If you're accustomed to manually keeping track of projects, digitising this aspect of your day to day life opens the opportunity to truly collaborate on tasks, and give you and your team a real-time view into your workload.
File Sharing Tools
In normal office environments, you've likely got access to a shared drive where you can safely store your work without the risk of misplacing it. However, it's always a good idea to keep cloud-based backups of any documents. You can store password-protected copies of sensitive documents via pCloud – which was voted Best Secure Cloud Storage Provider of 2020. For day to day storage of spreadsheets, audio and video files and every document in between – DropBox and Google Drive are the most popular choices.
Webinars and Virtual Training
No matter how long you've been a PA, there's no denying the role is ever evolving. The best way to stay abreast with new technology, systems and processes that can help you in your role is to keep learning. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, online training and webinars have been a go-to for PAs looking to upskill themselves or simply do a refresher course. Access is easy, and you can accommodate your sessions into a time frame that works for you.
Virtual Meetings
Instead of scheduling face-to-face meetings between yourself and your manager, or between your manager and the other attendees, you'll likely need to be arranging for that to happen online. Using video chat platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom is a great way to get everyone added to a single meeting invite, which they can join by simply clicking a link. If you're new to this way of catching up with colleagues, our 10 tips for successful Zoom meetings will help you get started. These are the two most widely recognised video conferencing platforms as Skype for Business is phased out.
Mental Health Tools
As we become more comfortable with our new normal, we need to keep paying attention to our mental health. More important than any other challenges we might face, keeping a healthy mind is essential to coping during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. Take control over yours by using apps like Calm or HeadSpace, and if you find yourself battling or just need a bit of support – Samaritans is always available on 116 123.
The digital movement has been driving the demand for online tools, platforms and content to make our professional and private lives just that little bit easier. If a certain system of process works for you, don't feel the need to change it overnight. Keeping with the times, gradual moves are better than staying stagnant – so do what's best for your own unique situation.