Class Details
Executive Assistant's Course: Communication, Time Management and Career Development
Course summary
In the ever-evolving world of business, the role of Executive Assistants (EAs) and Personal Assistants (PAs) has become increasingly complex and demanding. To thrive in this environment, it is imperative to be not only an outstanding communicator but also an effective task manager. This course is crafted to equip you with the essential skills to navigate these challenges successfully.
In this foundational course, you'll learn and practise essential communication skills, strategies for managing your time and tasks, and approaches to building your capabilities for career success.
Aims
This course is designed to provide you with the essential skills and strategies for success as an Executive Assistant or Personal Assistant. You'll learn how to manage tasks effectively, handle communication challenges, build trust, and continually enhance your skills for long-term career success.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- effectively support your manager while contributing to a productive and resilient work environment
- communicate with clarity and confidence through active listening, professional writing, and an understanding of verbal and non-verbal communication
- build rapport, trust, and positive working relationships with a range of stakeholders
- manage competing priorities by setting boundaries and maintaining focus on key objectives
- apply practical planning, prioritisation, delegation, and time management techniques to meet deadlines and achieve goals
- evaluate your own strengths, values, and development needs to create a practical action plan for continuous improvement and career progression.
Content
Module 1: The role of the modern executive assistant
- Explore the evolving role of an Executive Assistant (EA)/Personal Assistant (PA) in modern businesses
- Identify responsibilities, expectations and essential skills for success
- Assess your skills and areas of growth
- Emphasise the importance of confidentiality and professionalism
- Explore digital tools and software for enhanced productivity
Module 2: Communication and building trust
- Analyse verbal and non-verbal cues, and apply ‘active listening’
- Learn the framework for assertive communication for both verbal and written situations
- Build and maintain trust and rapport in professional relationships with managers, colleagues and external contacts
- Address cross-cultural communication, diversity and inclusion in the workplace for understanding and respecting different perspectives
- Develop strategies for managing communication breakdowns
Module 3: Strategic time mastery
- Effectively plan your day and week, including setting goals, priorities and competing deadlines
- Establish your own morning and afternoon routines for increased productivity
- Manage the manager’s schedule, adapting your support for different managers and projects
- Master effective handover, follow-up and close-out practices
- Adapt plans based on changing circumstances
Module 4: Professional and personal development
- Embrace self-care practices and maintain a healthy work-life balance
- Develop techniques to manage stress and conflict
- Explore avenues for professional development and networking
- Future-proof your career by setting career goals and action steps
Prerequisites
If you have more than five years of experience as an Executive Assistant or Personal Assistant, we recommend attending the Experienced Executive Assistant's Course: Navigating Change, AI and Building Executive Presence, which is tailored to address the challenges and opportunities that arise with extensive experience in the field. You can also enrol in it after completing this foundational course, ensuring a seamless progression in your professional development.
Who this course is for
Suitable for current Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants seeking to unlock their potential to thrive as a highly effective assistant, through teaching, group discussion, interactive exercises and self-awareness.
Delivery style
This course is an interactive workshop which includes lectures, group exercises and discussion.
Delivery modes
- Face-to-face, presenter-taught workshop using your own device
- Online workshop via the platform Zoom
Materials
Course materials are shared electronically.
What you need to do before the course
Prior to attending, you should:
- generate an example of your daily to-do list
- create a general list of all core responsibilities and tasks performed for the people/ projects supported
- think of one example of a 'time constraint'
- create a list of any AI tools, software or apps you use for productivity (if applicable)
- prepare one case study or example that involves dealing with a difficult person in a professional setting.
Please bring your device to class to access the course learning materials.
Sessions
Location
Face-to-face (Venue TBA, Sydney)
Other information
If your upcoming class is Face-to-face (Venue TBA, Sydney), the class is located at the Camperdown/Darlington campus but the exact classroom and building has not been assigned.
The exact location on campus is confirmed approximately five business days from a class start date and you will then receive a course preparation email with this information.
Meet the facilitators
Annik Rau
Annik Rau is an international facilitator who teaches communication and public speaking through experiential learning, focused on strengthening how people perform and communicate under pressure in business and leadership settings.
Since 2011, she has facilitated well over 600 sessions across the UK, Europe, Africa and Australia, working with thousands of participants across corporate, professional and entrepreneurial contexts. Her focus is on moving people from thinking about communication to doing it in practice - pitching ideas, leading conversations, stepping onto stages and showing up more effectively in their careers and businesses.
She has worked with organisations including the BBC and Bank of New York, designing learning environments where participants actively practise, test and refine their skills in real time rather than passively receive information. Her facilitation draws on applied improvisation and experiential learning, using structured cycles of action, reflection and integration to build capability that lasts beyond the room.
Annik holds a degree in Communication, Marketing and PR from VWA (Academy of Administration and Business), Berlin and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management from the University of London. She also holds a Trauma-Informed Certificate for Facilitators and an Advanced Applied Improvisation for Trainers certification (AIN).
