Project Management for PAs, Administrators and Secretaries

Overview

Course duration: 2 days.

This course will motivate and instil confidence in PAs, administrators and secretaries who are involved in the core skills of project management. The course enables you to practise new skills in a risk-free environment.

We have designed this two day course to provide office professionals with the essential knowledge to effectively plan, implement and review projects. Through attending this course, delegates will also be able to improve their communication, time management and problem solving skills and apply these to their projects.

Is it right for me?

Suitable for support staff that are new to the management of projects or who have had no formal training and want to have a formal grounding in project management. This course is not suitable for delegates already proficient in the use of standard project planning techniques.

What will I learn?

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Clearly define what constitutes a project.
• Plan, organise and document a project in a logical manner.
• Use appropriate tools and documents in order to plan the project effectively and to minimise risk.
• Demonstrate knowledge of delegation, time management, decision making and communication skills essential to effective project implementation.
• Review and learn from strengths and weaknesses identified on completion of a project.
• Influence people and negotiate solutions to problems which arise during your projects.

Pre-course Activity

Please bring examples of paperwork used in your project processes. This course requires the completion of a pre-course questionnaire in order that we can ensure that the course focuses on your key issues and needs.

What will it cover?

What is a Project?

• Defining what we mean by project working
• Special features of projects
• The role of the project manager - and others
• Skills of the project manager
• Effective team working within the project
• Providing good internal customer service

The Project Life Cycle

• A four-stage approach to managing projects
• Preparing and outlining the project
• Setting and agreeing objectives, scope and constraints

Project Planning

• Basic planning tools and techniques
• Communication
• Monitoring and controlling activities
• Documentation standards and data display methods

Implementing the Project

• Keeping activities on track
• Planning and contributing to effective meetings
• Making effective decisions
• Dealing with requests for change
• Negotiating for what you want

Reviewing the Project

• Measuring what actually happened against the plan
• Learning lessons - both positive and negative
• The importance of providing feedback
• Closing down and moving on

Practical Exercises

• You will carry out practical exercises during the course to gain useful experience of the project management process and related skills.  You will be able to apply these skills in your workplace.

Personal Development

• Formulating an action plan

Further courses to consider

• The Essentials of Project Management including Microsoft Project
• The APM Introductory Certificate in Project Management

Testimonial

Nicola Wicks, Project Co-ordinator

Lucent Technologies

It was one of the best courses I have attended. It went at everybody's pace. I learnt a lot from this and have taken it back to the workplace.