Being a diplomat is not easy. It can take years of practice, studying, tuition and most importantly, experience to learn how to manage people so that all parties feel appeased. This takes intelligence: the ability to know when assertiveness helps and when it can be damaging. In the world of business, bad diplomacy can cost untold amounts while good diplomacy can lead to unforeseen possibilities.

The life of a personal assistant can be as glamorous as it can be stressful and maintaining a professional demeanour can become increasingly difficult. Often, you will have to manage your boss’ moods, taking everything in your stride and acting as objectively as you can without becoming emotionally involved.

The superior executive PA course will teach personal development, a knowledge and trust of yourself so that you can act objectively even if someone is trying to bully you into a certain course of action. This can take a psychological toll if you haven’t been given the right training, but with it the well being that can result from handling a difficult client can be immeasurable. The right course will help you to grow personally as well as professionally, dispelling the myth that business interaction is all about facades.

But managing people is not all about face to face interaction. Maintaining a payroll system is still managing people because their livelihoods depend on your abilities. Finding a suitable payroll course that will give you a grounding you can trust takes on a new importance. On a Sage course, for example, you will learn about data back up and restoration should the worst happen. Out of sight people management ability like this breeds trust and confidence in your skills, especially when inevitable queries are raised about why a payslip has turned out a certain way!