Course details

Overview ?

Introduction

The Senior Secretary holds a key position of influence and a powerful partnership with the senior management team. Success in this role has a direct effect on the success of executive operations. The Senior Secretary who understands the role and pressures of management and even thinks like the team will achieve improved performance, outstanding results and respect from superiors and the executive team.

You already hold this position because of your current capability therefore this programme seeks to supplement your current set of capabilities and competence by:-

Presenting you with an additional set of competences to add to your skills portfolio
By using interactive team and group exercises to practice the skills learned
By presenting a series of video’s to supplement the theories & learning presented
Interaction with fellow students from a variety of different organizations for learning & networking
By developing your skills and capabilities for the future
By concentration on developing your people and social skills

Objectives

Attendance on this programme will expose participants to a variety of personal and organizational development skills, knowledge and competences designed to improve the effectiveness of individuals in the workplace and their working relationships with colleagues and clients.

The main objectives are:-

Creating opportunities for your personal development and accepting the challenges when they arise
Managing yourself, your subordinates, your colleagues and your boss more effectively
Developing the competence & managerial aspects of your role
Improving your confidence, assertiveness and communication skills
Managing the stress and pressure in an increasingly challenging environment
Understanding your own and others personality & its effect on behaviour
Make better and more effective decisions

Particular competences that will be developed are:-

How to communicate better with a wide range of people
How to negotiate with other more effectively
How to use a variety of time tools effectively
Improvement in memory skills
How to motivate yourself and others How to analyse your performance for future development opportunities

Training Methodology

The seminar is based on a combination of interactive activities - group and individual exercises, case studies, role plays and discussions - along with formal inputs.

The environment will be a supportive one in which individuals with varying degrees of experience will be encouraged to share the approaches they currently use as well as try out new ones that they encounter on the course. The course Tutor will be on hand to answer any questions a delegate may have and to act as a facilitator for building and applying new approaches.

We aim for this to be an enjoyable as well as a learning experience and feel that the mix of style and learning techniques will prove valuable to those that attend. The tutor is available to discuss any personal or private problems each day.

Organisational Impact

Staff attending this event will appreciate the range of skills and competencies required to fulfill their job role effectively. They will have been exposed to, and will have practiced, techniques in competencies that are essential in the Senior Secretary role. An organisation sending a participant can expect to see:

An improvement in confidence from the attendee
An enhanced range of competences deployed in the workplace
An increased awareness of the impact of personality on behaviour and appropriate techniques to improve effectiveness
Improvement in problem solving & decision making techniques employed
Able to work on own initiative more effectively
An improvement in memory
Enhanced social interaction skills

Personal Impact

Attendance at the seminar will result in individuals being exposed to a wide range of interpersonal and organisational techniques required to operate effectively in a this highly responsible position.

Delegates will be able to:-

Better able to think through situations in a more logical and analytical manner
Understand and explain the methods that will be of benefit to them in managing the pressures and demands of their workplace in such a position.
Have a selection of tools to approach situations and people more effectively
Feel more confident in their own capability to handle the more unusual situations that occur
Have practiced skills in a non threatening environment
Have the tools to develop a personal action plan

SEMINAR OUTLINE

DAY 1 : Defining and Developing the Role

The Executive PA – your vital partnership with management
Defining the responsibilities and authority of your role. Biases & prejudice
Identifying ways of broadening your role and creating opportunities to increase your responsibilities
Developing the managerial aspects of your role – essential management skills Planning for development – identifying and overcoming barriers to your success
Understanding your own and others personality & subsequent behaviour
Team Exercise

DAY 2 : Effective Communication

Interacting with others and networking for success – getting yourself seen and heard
Developing and advancing your relationship with your manager/director
Improving your communication skills – negotiating, influencing, persuading and delegating
Individual, Team & Group exercise on Consensus

DAY 3 : Developing Confidence

Trusting your initiative and judgment
Saying "no" constructively
Problem Solving & Decision making tools
Team roles and interaction with others
Video Presentation Skills
Individual & Team Exercise Tantrix & Colour Blind

DAY 4 : Developing and Improving Key Skills

Improving your confidence and assertiveness
Practicing effective time management skills
Concentrating, thinking, listening and making decisions under pressure
Conflict Management
Improving your memory
Video Conflict Management
Team Exercise & Leadership Practice Building/Tower Exercise

DAY 5 : Getting Results

Benefiting from key motivation techniques – motivating yourself, your subordinates and your boss
Achieving results through others
Managing stress and pressure that comes with change and challenge
Measuring your performance based on objectives, standards, responsibilities set and achieved
Preparing for your development
Action planning
Group Exercise

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5