PA & Secretaries' Advancement Programme

Efficient Personal Assistants and Secretaries are dynamic, multi-faceted individuals who are able to establish rapport and manage expectations and relationships on all levels in the workplace. PAs and secretaries need to possess communication, time management, project management, quality management, assertiveness, negotiation, networking and conflict management skills. This programme enables delegates to develop a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the management process and the role of the Personal Assistant and Secretary. It challenges participants to increase their effectiveness and productivity in their work environment and gives them the opportunity to enhance their management expertise in a number of critical areas that will result in significant personal development. This programme promotes the holistic development of the Personal Assistant and Secretary. Attendees are encouraged to refine their skills and become confident professionals.

Course Duration: Three days

 Course Outline:

Unit 1: Personal Progression Skills
Effective Personal Assistants and Office Professionals are vitally important to any organisation. Specific skills and behaviours are fundamental for the professional PA and office professional.

• Professional charisma: making a good first impression through appearance
• Presentation skills: communicating with poise
  - The three step approach in planning a presentatio
  - Identifying the needs of your audience
  - Creative presentation techniques
• The PA/office professional function: meeting my boss's expectations with flair

Unit 2: Personal Motivation Tools
Implementing goals and systems to increase productivity.

• Personal Motivation
  - Motivation - Your key to personal success
  - Identifying and attaining your personal goals
• Setting and acting on priorities: monitoring effectiveness
• Leading and problem solving: making decision
  - The PA/office professional's role in decision making
  - The decision making process
  - Steps in defining problems

Unit 3: Business Writing Skills
This informative session focuses on professional, concise writing and gives you the tools to write effective emails, minutes of meetings and reports.

• Planning and profiling the reader
• Readability, style and tone
• Grammar, editing and plain English
• Everyday formats: emails, letters, agendas, minutes of meetings and reports

Unit 4: Assertiveness & People Management
Managing relationships with confidence. Conflict management, appreciating diversity, coping with on-going work group dynamics - change management and functioning effectively as part of a team is fundamental for success. This engaging session equips you with the techniques to manage relationships at work.

• Assertiveness and personality: understanding my strengths
  - Six pillars of assertiveness
  - Assertive, aggressive and passive behaviour
  - Assertiveness techniques
  - Using assertive behaviour to influence decisions
• Leadership profiles: understanding my manager's work
• Style and behaviour
• Managing my manager
• Managing conflict, difficult personalities and difficult situations: dealing with challenges in the workplace

Unit 5: Event & Project Management
This practical session introduces ideas about efficient event planning and management.

• Project Management Principles
• Project Management Process
• Effective Event Planning

Unit 6: Time & Stress Management
Effective time management is a fundamental characteristic of dynamic office professionals. This session is designed to increase personal effectiveness, enhance group productivity and encourage a balanced life perspective.

• Time Management Principles
• Goal setting, team dynamics
• Achieving balance

Accreditation

Ingwe Corporate Training is an accredited provider with the Services SETA (SETQAA Decision number 1994) and courses are aligned to current registered unit standards.