Fundamentals for the
Modern EA
Looking for proven strategies to succeed as an Executive Assistant?
For those in executive support roles it is easy to be lost in the “busy” of a fast-paced role and organisational environment. This course is designed to deliver professional and personal development for those in the early to mid-stages of their EA or PA role. With four key modules delivered over two days, this course will cover:
Key learning Outcomes
- What are the pillars of success for a modern EA?
- How can you build core competencies to take your career to the next level?
- Understanding professionalism and relationship management
- Is it possible to find the perfect time-management strategy?
- Identifying and managing the root causes of professional stress in the workplace?
Who Should Attend
Those involved with drafting or editing contracts, and those wanting more knowledge around how contracts may impact themselves and their organisations.
Past Attendee Testimonials
“Excellent course, met expectations, informative, good content and entertaining”
– Dave Daly, Purchasing Manager, Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd
“I found Terry to be personable, interesting, engaging & easy to understand with great examples”
– Louise Morten, Contract Analyst, Department of Corrections
Module 1: Building role satisfaction and successful careers
- Introduction & Objectives – determining what you would like to achieve over the next two days
- Identify the challenges you face in your role and strategies to address them
- Understand the vital role the EA has in helping the manager achieve their goals & KPIs
Module 2: Developing the skills for success
Building self-awareness in professional settings
- Increasing self-awareness by understanding what drives our responses to situations & knowing what effective self-management ‘looks like’
- Understanding your communication/ behavioural style
- The four communication & behavioural types; understanding yourself and others.
- Building positive solution-oriented mindsets
- Personal influence and managing power plays
Developing Effective Communication Skills
- Examining the barriers to effective communication
- Saying what you mean, honestly and transparently, without damaging relationships
- Speaking so others will listen and respect your opinion and knowledge
- Active listening to improve your comprehension and to connect well with others
- Using body language to communicate
- Asking great questions to enhance and enable productive discussions
- Connecting with others by paraphrasing to show understanding and empathy
Prioritisation and Time Management
- Implementing frameworks to help you conquer your workloads
- The tools and skills for being both efficient and effective in your highly reactive role
- Creating a prioritisation action plan
- Developing a results focused action plan
- Maximising your productivity and handling unwanted interruptions
- The skills to overcome procrastination – practical strategies, tools and techniques
- How to say no/ not now, without feeling guilty or damaging relationships
Module 3: Developing professionalism and managing difficult situations
Dealing With Difficult People, Difficult Behaviours and Workplace Conflict
- Managing the manager – the lessons and tools to help you manage up
- Working effectively with manager/s and colleagues across the business, when they impact your ability to do your job well
- Avoiding clashes by dealing with situations immediately and effectively
- Diffusing difficult situations before they become critical
- Overcoming a natural fear of confrontation and conflict
- Developing a win/win approach for dealing with difficult people
- Objectively identifying the real issues in a conflict
- Managing emotions and personality conflicts
- Attacking the problem (not the person) with a workable solution
- Committing yourself to reaching a resolution through collaboration
Module 4: Getting a return on your investment
- Review challenges identified on day 1 and ensure you have sufficient strategies to address them
- Develop an action plan to apply these skills and tools in your role/ to discuss with your manager
Elaine McMeeking
Facilitator, People & Team, EA/PA
Before moving to New Zealand, Elaine started her career in training, HR and recruitment roles in South Africa. For the last six years she has worked as a management and training consultant for a number of large organisations, focusing on the areas of personal efficiency, performance management and appraisal, presentation, facilitation, sales and customer service.
Elaine’s enviable academic achievements and international experience as a management training specialist is complimented by her friendly and open style. With an obvious talent for facilitation, her well known professionalism and her knowledge and understanding of the topic, you can count on a practical and results oriented course.
Register for this Event
This is a 2-day course.
Courses start 9am (coffee & registration from 8.30am) and run until 4.30pm / 5.00 pm each day.
Expand dates below for more details.
March 25, 2025
- Last Minute $2699+gst per person
- Cliftons, Wellington
April 8, 2025
- Last Minute $2699+gst per person
- Cliftons, Auckland
November 10, 2025
- Last Minute $2699+gst per person
- Cliftons, Wellington
