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 World Class Assistant™
Part 2 Curriculum Overview
Success Stories:
“A few days after I got back from the course, I invited one of my executives to lunch so that we could talk about how I could help him with his career as well as finding some opportunities for me. He was very open and excited about it. I am, too! He seems willing to consider me as a partner now instead of just a travel agent.” – Katherine Morgan, SDA (FKP Architects, Inc.)
“My executive has given me more goals that align with hers for 2005. She is also giving me more delegating authority. I am now working with monthly budget costs and trying to keep our spending within company limits (something I probably would have never tackled prior to attending your seminar). – Tammy Clark (Abgenix)
Do you want to hear more great success stories like these? Would you like to know how other attendees implemented what they learned at their first World Class Assistant workshop? Do you have a success story you can share? You will have that opportunity when you attend Part 2! Come prepared to share one or two areas of success you had out of the six we covered in the original program.
Paradigms: Help or Hindrance to Success?
As you learned in Part 1, paradigms can be good. They provide rules, regulations and parameters. But when do they become a roadblock to success in your job or career? How do you know if you are hanging onto “old thoughts and processes” and, more importantly, when to let go? Find out during Part 2.
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Identify your general work and administrative role paradigms |
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Explore which paradigms will enhance your success |
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Change your attitudes and outlook about how your job and organization should operate |
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Realize that some beliefs are so deeply rooted they become barriers to exploring new ideas and opportunities |
Success Is 90% Attitude:
Did you know that attitude is a choice? It is not something someone does to you or says to you. What happens to you at work is not as important as the attitude you choose to embrace about it. While many people think they have to react negatively to a certain person or situation, it is totally in one’s control. Find out the impact attitude has on your success in developing work relationships, producing quality work, building strategic relationships, overcoming obstacles and creating even better ways to do old things.
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Explore the delicacy of attitudes – and why projecting a positive attitude is the best way to stay successful |
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Discuss common scenarios that can influence attitude in the workplace |
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Learn to keep “outside,” negative influences at bay |
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Reinforce how attitude is a conscious choice |
Goal Setting and Creating Your Career Portfolio:
Many organizations are requiring their administrative staff to set specific, attainable goals. In Part 1, we touched on the subject of aligning your career goals with your department and company goals. In Part 2, you will learn specific steps to setting goals and how to overcome obstacles. You will learn the value a career portfolio can add when interviewing for new positions or demonstrating the work you’re capable of doing. Ample time will be provided to help you begin designing a career portfolio.
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Learn how to establish your worth in the workplace |
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Discover new ways to promote your valuable skills and build alliances |
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Find out where and when to use a career portfolio |
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Brainstorm specific ways to build your own career portfolio in a hands-on exercise designed to spur creativity and prepare you to launch this important project once the workshop has concluded |
Advanced Conflict Resolution Skills:
A World Class Assistant must employ outstanding conflict resolution skills. While we tend to think of conflict as a full-blown disagreement, it is often at the heart of our day. Any difference of opinion or perception can be considered a conflict because we have dissimilar views. This session will take you beyond the typical “create win-win situations” advice.
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Discuss the negative “domino effect” of not resolving conflicts |
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Map out the benefits of creating win-win situations |
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Learn 9 strategies for cooperative conflict |
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Change your thinking from viewing conflict as “me against you” to “me and you against the problem” |
Issues & Best Practices:
I have been hosting “Issues and Best Practices” sessions for 14 years at my annual Forum for Administrative Excellence. This is an effective approach to addressing topics that are of interest to attendees. Before you attend Part 2, I will ask for topics you would like addressed – they can be in the form of a challenge, problem or “how to” question. These will be presented to our attendees so they can provide their best ideas and/or practices.
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Address topics and issues of most importance to you |
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Benchmark with peers from businesses of various types and sizes |
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Share your successes and what you’ve learned from being in the field |
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Problem solve and think of creative approaches to recurring problems |
Poise, Polish and Professionalism – Advanced Topics and Strategies:
This was a popular topic at the Part 1 workshop, and there is more information to be shared here! We will build on strategies you learned, and introduce several new ideas. We hope to have a special “image” expert help us work through casual dress. Don’t forget to look your professional best when you come to Part 2!
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Learn how visual distractions hold enormous negative power |
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Explore the six clothing personality types and which ones need to be adapted to the business environment |
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Review casual dress rules and be introduced to a new list of “casual casualties” |
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Analyze, decide and create visual “yes” or “no” dress posters based on everything taught in this session |
Are We Communicating?
You learned how important being a great communicator is in Part 1. We covered communication styles, persuasion skills, tapping into your manager’s style and more. This is going to be a fun, interactive segment. A special activity is planned which will give you an opportunity to work in teams and demonstrate the importance of giving good directions, providing details and listening well. Bring comfortable shoes!
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Know when you are listening vs. just hearing |
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Practice increasing your listening skills with several listening activities |
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Clarify simple miscommunication vs. deeper reasons behind communication deterioration |
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Put “question power” to work for you |
Leadership Isn’t Just for Management:
Several of our graduates asked for tips on leadership and mentoring. World Class Assistants see themselves as leaders. Who do they lead if they don’t have anyone reporting to them? What kinds of things do they take the lead on – and how and when should they do that? You will learn the answers to these questions and more!
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Leverage administrative talent in your organization |
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Lead peers by creating an environment of community and unity |
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Promote teamwork by tapping into administrative peers’ talents |
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Welcome input and respect others’ ideas |
World Class Assistant – Part 2
(Open only to WCA Part 1 Graduates)
WCA Part 2 Agenda
| Thursday |
| 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. |
Networking |
| 8:30 – 9:45 a.m. |
Welcome and Program Overview
Success Stories (A learning opportunity from WCA graduates. Attendees will be asked to share how they implemented what they learned at the Part 1 workshop, plus they will hear some powerful success stories from selected graduates.)
Paradigms: Help or Hindrance to Success?
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| 9:45 – 10:00 a.m. |
Break |
| 10:00 – 11:45 a.m. |
Success is 90% Attitude |
| 11:45 – 1:00 p.m. |
Large Group Luncheon |
| 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. |
Goal Setting and Creating Your Career Portfolios (How to set goals within your current position; aligning goals with your corporate development plans.) |
| 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. |
Break |
| 2:45 – 4:00 p.m. |
Advanced Conflict Resolution Skills |
| 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. |
Reception with Joan Burge |
Friday |
| 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. |
Networking |
| 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. |
Issues & Best Practices (This is an open forum. Attendees will be able to discuss issues that are important to them and get input from their peers; these will be work-related topics and may simply include “how to do things better.”) |
| 9:15 – 9:45 a.m. |
Bits & Pieces (Short-subject topics will be covered as
requested by graduates; may include event planning,
formatting e-mail and other written communications, and
effectively using technology.) |
| 9:45 – 10:00 a.m. |
Break |
| 10:00 – 11:45 a.m. |
Poise, Polish and Professionalism – Advanced Topics and Strategies |
| 11:45 – 1:00 p.m. |
Large Group Luncheon |
| 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. |
Are We Communicating? (This will be an interactive team activity demonstrating the importance of giving good directions, providing details, being a good listener, following instructions and working together to accomplish a goal) |
| 2:30 – 2:45 p.m. |
Break |
| 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. |
Leadership Isn’t Just for Management |
| 3:45 – 4:00 p.m. |
Action Plans and Debriefing |
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