The boss’s right hand should not be left in the shadows!

Course Introduction

Executive Secretaries and Personal Assistants everywhere need to wear many ‘hats’ when they are often required to step into the boss’s shoes in dealing with difficult people or difficult problems. Our Executive Secretaries Personal Assistant Training Course will help you develop the right skills to multi-task and handle whatever comes your way.

As an Executive Secretary you need to equip yourself with many different skills to keep things under control. We highlight some of those skills to give you a heads- up:

Problem solving
Multi-tasking or “juggling many balls” at the same time without dropping any!
Being highly organised and efficient
Able to work to tight deadlines
Work towards high standards of accuracy and efficiency
Maintaining confidentiality and discretion at all times
Being courteous, friendly and tactful.
Being professional when dealing with senior staff, fellows, alumni, donors, colleagues and students
Having the ability to juggle priorities with effective coping strategies
Accepting accountability for results
Being a team player who is proactive and energetic and keen to make things happen
Being flexible and willing to contribute by helping others

The Challenge

The skills you will develop from this course include the ability to:

Obtain knowledge of the business environment
Establish and maintain working relationships
Plan and organise your own work
Maintain files and records

The Solution

The way forward as an Executive Secretary becomes easier when:

Knowledge of the business environment is demonstrated with relation to people, legislation, and documentation. Planning aids are described and used in line with scheduling techniques, time management and work prioritisation, to plan and monitor work. Routine and unexpected tasks are identified and prioritised according to organisational procedures. Anticipated difficulties in meeting deadlines are promptly reported. Assistance is requested, where necessary, to meet specific demands and deadlines.
You discover how to establish and maintain working relationships. Team working, relationship and conflict management, and communication styles are described. Information is provided to internal and external customers in line with routine requirements and on-off requests. Information, advice and resources required are communciated. Commitments are met.
Opportunities are taken to promote the image of the department and organisation to internal and external customers. Confidentiality and data protection is maintained.
You learn how to maintain files and records. Information sorting, handling and storage procedures are explained. New documentation and records are filed. Item movements are monitored and recorded where necessary. Opportunities for improving filing systems are identified and brought to the attention of the appropriate person.

Training Approach

Our two-day training course is designed so that the knowledge acquired is applied practically to enhance the business environment.

This course has a strong focus on an outcomes based approach and is presented to encourage group participation and involvement. Key mechanisms used include: