Differentiate yourself! There are 4 million administrative professionals in the U.S. Discuss how to lead the way as support staff positions evolve and grow in scope. Gain practical knowledge in problem solving and how to be better organized. Practice techniques for responding to other people's needs without giving up your own. A mix of video, role-play and group exercises makes this class fun and lively. You will hate to see this two-day workshop end, but will leave with an enhanced self-image, ready to take on authority and more interesting responsibilities.

You chose the learning environment! Log in from work, home, a park or Starbucks, and learn to write better. Learn to write emails that say what you mean without needing to add smiley face "emoticons." Master those tough grammatical areas that have always stumped you. Learn to select the appropriate tone and style. Practice writing clearly and get personal, private feedback from your online coach. Chill out in the Cyberspace Café and "blog" with your classmates. Spend only a few hours a week, at the time and place of your choosing, during the 6-week program. Mastering university-style online learning is an added benefit.

Write right! Learn to write and edit clear, concise, effective business correspondence. Explore ways to enhance your professional image on the page or computer screen. Practice techniques to make writing tasks easier, quicker and more effective. Receive constructive critiques after each writing practice and discover your unique writing strengths and trouble spots. Topics covered in the program include: Getting Organized, Avoiding Common Errors, Critiquing and Editing, and Grammar and Usage Refresher.

Speed limits are for others! Put your foot on the gas and feel the power of Communicating for Results. Why let stressful interpersonal situations slow you down and limit your potential? Learn how to read others’ behavior, identify listening blocks, disarm conflict and assertively get what you want and need. Challenging practice drills assure that you leave the program equipped with new and immediately useful communication skills.

Length: 2 consecutive days
Location: Holt Learning, 245 Fifth Avenue (At 28th Street)

You are the center of the wheel! You probably know more about what’s going on in your work group than anyone else. Administrative Professionals serve as a communication hub and are expected to communicate effectively in all directions: certainly upward to your manager and other senior management; across to colleagues in the department as well as across divisional lines; and, outside to vendors, suppliers, and customers. Learn to see yourself in the center and gain new communication skills that will give you confidence to live up to these expectations.

Length: 1 day
Location: Holt Learning, 245 Fifth Avenue (At 28th Street)

American psychologist Carl Rogers' Client Service Model (Empathy, Acceptance and Congruence) is presented as a framework for effective communication in this popular class. Participants view and critique two humorous video examples in terms of the Client Service Model. They define passive, aggressive and assertive communication and learn the 7 assertiveness skills. Participants take the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument in preparation for a discussion and exploration of the five conflict handling modes of competing, a voiding, accommodating, collaborating and compromising.

Viewed as a stand-alone program or as a follow up to ALS, this class challenges participants to search assertively for leadership opportunities. The program focuses on communication skills, the key ingredient in the leadership recipe. Experiential exercises increase awareness and build skills around active listening, body language, assertiveness and understanding "client" needs through questioning. This class employs the use of video, many small group exercises and role-play. The introduction to negotiating skills is usually a first for many participants and enjoyed thoroughly.

Administrative Professionals make decisions and solve problems daily. They feel pressure to make GOOD decisions and deliver the BEST solutions FAST! This program offers techniques for decision making and problem solving, as well as the added twist -- which decisions and problems do you tackle alone versus with your manager, an attorney or with others on the team? Participants sample a wide variety of helpful creative problem solving methods designed to use alone or with others. Finally, participants solve real-life problems using creative thinking and a handy problem-solving

During this one-day innovative session, participants will examine the familiar concept of Leadership and their relationship with it. They will recognize their contribution, increase and strengthen their network and sharpen their leadership skills. An assessment to determine participants' leadership styles is included.

Would you like to feel more confident about your grammar usage? Join your fellow Administrative Professionals and an expert instructor in six weekly online sessions. You will spend less than two hours a week, and can participate from your computer at work or home. Complete weekly assignments at a time during the week that's convenient for you. Enjoy private, personalized feedback from the instructor. An added benefit is mastering online learning, which can prepare you for a lifetime of continued study and growth.

Better than a Broadway play! The finale negotiation simulation in this program draws rave reviews from participants. In this spirited activity, representatives from both sides of an issue negotiate an agreement. Using negotiation styles and tactics presented early in the session, the negotiators try for a win-win agreement that preserves the relationship, rather than fuels a heated debate. The "audience" is allowed to give advice by passing notes to the representatives. The skills and knowledge acquired in this fast one-day program will help you in daily transactions as well as important negotiations.

Administrative Professionals often work side-by-side. They are officially or informally expected to support each other, give directions or suggestions, train each other, and sometimes provide feedback. All of these behaviors qualify as coaching. In this highly interactive program participants learn the characteristics of an effective coach, how to coach on an adult-to-adult level, understand the difference between coaching and feedback, and apply the model of Situational Leadership to coaching situations (This class is very effective delivered in-house to an intact team of secretaries or other Administrative Professionals.)

Support Professionals in law firms sometimes complain that they feel "fried and frazzled." Working in this fast-paced environment can take a toll on some people, while others thrive. Job stress is believed by many authorities to be one of the leading adult health problems in the United States. Today, Stress Management is an informative, interactive, and practical program designed to help people understand the harmful effects of stress and identify techniques to counteract these effects. Topics covered in this program include: exploring the causes of stress, identifying life events that contribute to stress, assessing Type A versus Type B behavior, getting control of our lives and ways to elicit the relaxation response.

Support staff job descriptions, especially for secretaries, are constantly evolving in a law firm. Today it is not unusual to find support staff professionals supervising the work of others on a regular basis. Temporary employees are hired to work during peak periods or to cover absences. Sometimes interns or co-op students help with the administrative overload. New administrative staff is often partnered with more seasoned staff for training purposes. Whatever the case, senior support staff is often called upon to delegate work, give feedback, and train junior staff. This program will help senior Administrative Professionals learn valuable supervisory skills. Topics included are delegating work, managing the performance of others, influencing motivation, and training others on the job.

What are your most important activities based on your job, role and responsibilities? After reviewing a way to categorize priorities, this workshop presents a method for planning and managing time that includes proactive goals, reactive situations, people issues and technology. The learning experience is practical, interactive and focused on real challenges.

Learning Objectives

• Identify your time management challenges in today's workplace
• Explore how you choose to spend time and the impact of these choices
• Determine and categorize priorities based on goals and job responsibilities
• Learn tools to plan, schedule, manage interruptions, and manage technology
• Practice strategic and assertive communication
• Plan how to use the workshop concepts and tools

Length: 1 day