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Quick Look Course Summary:Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training (2 days)
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Length: 2 day(s)
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Price (at your venue): 1 Person R 10,326 EX VAT 3 Person R 7,594 EX VAT 10 Person R 5,537 EX VAT
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Certification Type:Non-Accredited
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Locations & Venues: Off-site or in-house. We train in all major city centres throughout South Africa.

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Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training (2 days)
An assistant who runs the executive's diary, information and office so the executive can concentrate on their own work.
A strong executive or personal assistant multiplies the time of the person they support; a struggling one becomes another thing the executive has to manage. This executive assistant training builds the skills that make the difference: understanding how your manager works, running a crowded diary, controlling access and information, and keeping the office running smoothly in the background.
Day one focuses on the assistant's role: agreeing responsibilities with the manager and knowing when to take the initiative, calendar and time management, preparing agendas and taking minutes, email and business writing, gatekeeping and saying no, confidentiality, and special tasks such as small projects, events and client contact. Day two focuses on the executive office itself: documenting its procedures in a guide that lets someone else stand in during leave or illness, deciding what belongs in that guide, keeping confidential information out of it and secure, and putting it to work.
Delegates practise with realistic diary clashes, gatekeeping scenarios and minute-taking, and leave with a working procedure template and an action plan to agree with their own manager. It is a practical two-day PA course for secretarial staff and experienced executive assistants alike.
Why this course
For your organisation
- Executives who get more of their own time back
- Diaries, meetings and correspondence that run on time
- Confidential information handled with discretion
- An executive office that keeps running during leave and handovers
For your delegates
- A clear, agreed picture of your responsibilities
- Practical diary, meeting and minute-taking routines
- Confidence to filter requests and say no diplomatically
- A procedure template for documenting how your office runs
What delegates will be able to do
- Agree responsibilities and working preferences with the manager you support
- Anticipate your manager's needs and judge when to act on your own initiative
- Manage a complex diary, prioritise requests and handle last-minute changes
- Prepare agendas, take clear minutes and help keep meetings on time
- Filter calls, visitors and requests as an effective gatekeeper
- Handle confidential information discreetly and keep data secure
- Write clear, professional emails and business correspondence
- Document the executive office's procedures so that others can stand in
Who should attend
Executive assistants, personal assistants, executive secretaries, office administrators and receptionists moving into a PA role, and assistants who support more than one manager. It also suits HR and L&D teams looking for a consistent baseline for new or recently promoted assistants.
Course outline
Day 1 – The assistant's role and toolkit
Working with your manager
- Understanding your manager's working style and preferences
- Agreeing responsibilities and decision limits
- Anticipating needs before you are asked
- When to take the initiative and when to check first
- Supporting more than one manager
Diary and time management
- Running the executive's calendar: blocks, buffers and travel time
- Handling clashes and last-minute changes
- Keeping others on track with reminders and follow-ups
- Prioritising your own work with the urgent-important matrix
- Planning the next day before you leave
Meetings and minutes
- Preparing an agenda and meeting pack
- Taking clear minutes and action lists
- Helping the chair keep to time
- Board meetings versus small team meetings
Communication tools of the trade
- Email protocol and managing a shared inbox
- Business writing: letters, memos and short reports
- Telephone and voicemail standards for the executive's office
- Online research and preparing briefing notes
- Scheduling and sharing tools in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
Gatekeeping and confidentiality
- Filtering calls, visitors and information
- Saying no diplomatically
- Handling difficult and persistent people
- Spotting pressure tactics and social engineering
- Your duty of confidentiality and POPIA basics
- What to do when you are put in an awkward position
Special tasks
- Coordinating small projects
- Organising events, exhibitions and visits
- Dealing with clients and senior stakeholders
- Supporting the company's social media
Day 2 – Running the executive office
Why the executive office needs written procedures
- Continuity when the assistant is on leave or ill
- Handovers and succession
- Supporting audit and governance requirements
- Recovering after a system failure or disruption
Capturing what you do
- Logging your tasks over a typical week
- Listing recurring tasks in a spreadsheet
- Asking the executive and colleagues what they rely on you for
- Choosing the procedures to document first
Writing the procedures
- A standard template: purpose, steps, contacts and forms
- Numbered steps with enough detail for a stand-in
- Worked examples: travel bookings, board packs, expense claims and diary rules
- Testing a procedure on a colleague
What stays out and how to store it
- Keeping passwords out of the guide
- Separating confidential executive and personal information
- Secure storage and access on paper and on shared drives
- Version control and review dates
Putting the guide to work
- Review and sign-off by the executive
- Briefing colleagues and stand-ins
- Keeping the guide current
- Personal action plan to agree with your manager
- Evaluation and close
How it is delivered
Two days, 08:30-16:00. In person at your offices anywhere in South Africa, at a BOTI venue, or live online. One delegate or a group of up to 20; scenarios can be built around your executives' real diary and meeting patterns. Workbook, templates and a personal action plan included. We deliver it at your offices in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and anywhere else in South Africa, at a BOTI venue in Johannesburg, or live online for teams in different places.
What our clients say
★★★★★ 4.8 on Google from 770+ reviews · word-for-word quotes from signed letters of reference, from clients on this and/or related BOTI courses
“The course was efficiently scheduled and planned around our timetable. We were impressed by both the quality of training and the Facilitators.”
“The training was very informative and practical, leaving our employees feeling confident in their ability to leverage Excel more effectively.”
“We have been very impressed with their service and rollout of the training.”
Frequently asked questions
Can you run this course at our offices?
Yes. Most groups are trained at the client's premises anywhere in South Africa; we can also host it at a BOTI venue or deliver it live online.
How many people can attend?
From one assistant to groups of about 20. Many organisations train all their executive assistants together so they share one standard.
Is it accredited?
No – it is a non-accredited short course and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance. It is not a certified executive personal assistant programme.
Is there a longer version?
Yes. The three-day Executive Assistant Personal Assistant and Administrator Training Development Course adds a full day on meeting management. This two-day course covers meetings in a single module.
Can it be tailored to our executives and tools?
Yes. Tell us which calendar and email tools you use and describe a few typical situations, and the facilitator uses them in the exercises.
Does it cover telephone and front-desk etiquette?
Only as it applies to the executive's office. For a full treatment, see Reception and Telephone Etiquette Training.
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This Secretary Course (or Receptionist Courses, Office Administration Short Course, Admin Clerk Courses, Receptionist Training, PA Courses, Office Administration Training) is intended for receptionists and PA’s. **Quote does not include Any Exam Fees (if applicable) IMPORTANT ACTION: Do Not Wait To Improve Your Skills. Book Now for Secretary Course (or Receptionist Courses, Office Administration Short Course, Admin Clerk Courses, Receptionist Training, PA Courses, Office Administration Training) By Completing Online Booking Form / Customised Proposal or Obtain Approval For Your Already Received Customised Proposal Don’t delay. Skill up at BOTi Today. (or Receptionist Courses, Office Administration Short Course, Admin Clerk Courses, Receptionist Training, PA Courses, Office Administration Training)Get your price – the more delegates, the less each pays
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- Course: Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Administrator Training (2 days)
- Length: 2 day(s)
- Delegates: 1
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