Executive and Personal Assistants Skills

Being an Executive or Personal Assistant is a unique position that requires a variety of skills. Whether you are updating schedules, making travel arrangements, minute taking, or creating important documents all must be done with a high degree of confidentiality. Confidentiality is one of the most important characteristics for every assistant.

Our Executive and Personal Assistants workshop will show your participants what it takes to be a successful assistant. Participants will learn what it takes to effectively manage a schedule, organize a meeting, and even how to be a successful gatekeeper. Being an Executive or Personal Assistant takes a special skill set and this workshop will provide your participants with the necessary tools.

At the end of this workshop, participants should be able to:

  • Adapt to the needs and styles of management
  • Communicate through written, verbal, and nonverbal methods
  • Improve time management skills
  • Manage meetings effectively
  • Act as a gatekeeper
  • Use the tools of the trade effectively

Course Outline:

Module One: Getting Started

Housekeeping Items

The Parking Lot

Workshop Objectives

Pre-Assignment

Action Plans and Evaluations

Module Two: Working with Your Manager

Adapting to Their Style

Anticipate Their Needs

Getting Your Responsibilities Defined

When to Take the Initiative

Case Study

Module Three: Administrative Soft Skills

Social Intelligence

Basic Business Acumen

Office Management

Active Listening

Case Study

Module Three: Review Questions

Module Four: Effective Time Management

Calendar Management

Prepare for Changes and Surprises

Keeping Others On Track

Urgent/Important Matrix

Case Study

Module Four: Review Questions

Module Five: Meeting Management

Creating An Agenda

Keeping Minutes

Keeping the Meeting On Time

Variations for Large and Small Meetings

Case Study

Module Five: Review Questions

Module Six: Tools of the Trade (I)

Email Protocol

Office Machinery

Computer and Software Skills

Communication Skills

Case Study

Module Six: Review Questions

Module Seven: Tools of the Trade (II)

Phone and Voicemail Etiquette

Word Processing

Business Writing

Internet Research

Case Study

Module Seven: Review Questions

Module Eight: Being an Effective Gatekeeper

Filtering Data and Information

Learn to Say No

Dealing With Difficult People

Recognize the Tricks

Case Study

Module Nine: Organizational Skills

Prioritizing Your Workload

Goal Setting

Plan for Tomorrow, Today

Staying on Track

Case Study

Module Nine: Review Questions

Module Ten: Confidentiality Guidelines

Your Confidentially Duty

Be Diplomatic and Discreet

Keeping Data Secure

What To Do in Sticky Situations

Case Study

Module Ten: Review Questions

Module Eleven: Special Tasks

Project Management

Trade Shows

Interacting with Clients

Social Media Management

Case Study

Module Eleven: Review Questions

Module Twelve: Wrapping Up

Words from the Wise

Review of Parking Lot

Lessons Learned

Completion of Action Plans and Evaluations