Having effective executive administrative skills are essential in today’s fast-paced work environment.

To develop important skills, executive assistants may use Foundation Skills for PA’s and Executive Assistants Training Course delivered by pdtraining in Canberra, Parramatta, Perth and other cities.

Being organised, punctual, and effective in your communication skills, both written and verbal are crucial if you want to be considered a “professional PA” or executive assistant.

The current business environment is filled with many sources of information, and you have to take that information and analyse it, prioritise it, and process it to the extent that you’re delivering value to your manager and the organisation.

Good administrative skills reduce the risk of “things falling through the cracks.” Great administrative skills create exponential results that spot potential problems, overcome obstacles, and leverage resources effectively.

The suggestions presented in this article may require some time to implement into your daily work routine. However, making the commitment to consistently apply the concepts every day is the key to changing and adopting new behaviours in the shortest amount of time.

Getting Organised

As a professional executive assistant, your workspace is a reflection of your organisational skills and preferences.

Having a cluttered, unorganised workspace sends the message to others that you may be the type of person that loses things or is constantly behind on projects. Invest the time to organise your workspace. It not only improves your efficiency, it sends the message to your manager and peers that you are well-organised and can be counted on to deliver results on time.

Here are some basic suggestions to make your desk a true workspace:

• Only place books, binders, and other reference materials on your desk that you use on a weekly basis. All other infrequently used materials should be placed in a drawer or cabinet.
• Keep personal effects to a minimum on your desk. Perhaps one or two photos of your family, favourite sports team or pet are enough to personalise your area.

Next, create a workflow pattern on your desktop. This will keep you from creating piles of work to accumulate atop your desk.

Here are some recommendations:

• Create a landing place where you will begin processing work either from left to right or vice versa. This work could come from your paper trail folder system mentioned earlier or just work you have to complete.
• Move your first task to the middle of your desk where your computer and other office supplies are neatly organised in trays or holders.
• Once the work is complete, place them in one of four trays at the other end of your desk.
• Mark your trays “To be filed”, “To be mailed”, and “To be reviewed” or “Pending information.

Try avoiding working on too many things at once. This will lead to multiple piles of work on your desk and increases the potential of missing a crucial step.

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Pdtraining delivers 1000’s of professional development courses each year in Brisbane, Sydney, Parramatta, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth, so you can be assured your training will be delivered by a qualified and experienced trainer.

All public Foundation Skills for PA’s and Executive Assistants Training courses include am/pm tea, lunch, printed courseware and a certificate of completion.  Customised courses are available upon request so please contact pdtraining on 1300 121 400 to learn more.