Leadership and ManagementOffice Administration and Executive Support
An executive assistant controls access to the most expensive diary in the organisation and is trusted with information most staff never see, which makes the role a judgement job rather than an administrative one. This course treats it that way. Delegates work through diary and priority management including the requests that should be declined on the principal's behalf, correspondence and communication written in somebody else's voice, and travel, logistics and the contingency planning that keeps a trip working. Document, filing and records practice is covered. Confidentiality, discretion and the handling of sensitive information follow. Meeting and event coordination is addressed. The course closes on managing upward, on working with difficult requests, and on the professional development the role rarely receives.
Course objectives
- Manage a diary by priority, including declining on the principal's behalf
- Write correspondence in another person's voice appropriately
- Arrange travel and logistics with realistic contingency
- Maintain document, filing and records practice
- Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion
- Coordinate meetings and events end to end
- Manage upward and handle difficult requests professionally
Who should attend
- Executive and personal assistants
- Office managers and administrators
- Secretaries and receptionists
- Administrative staff supporting senior teams
- Anyone moving into an executive support role
Course outline
- 01A judgement job, not an administrative one
- 02Diary and priority management
- 03Declining and protecting time
- 04Correspondence in another voice
- 05Travel, logistics and contingency
- 06Documents, filing and records
- 07Confidentiality and discretion
- 08Meetings, events and managing upward
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 to 25 November 2026 | Port Louis, Mauritius | Classroom | USD 995 per delegate | Register Now |
| 9 to 11 December 2026 | Online | Online | R6,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 13 to 15 January 2027 | Gaborone, Botswana | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | Register Now |