Workshop Topics 2015
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Workshop Topics 2015 Bestselling authors and collaborators Bonnie Low-Kramen and Vickie Sokol Evans welcome the opportunity to educate and inspire your administrative staff. Through interactive training, they cover both soft and hard skills resulting in increased productivity as well as a renewed and reenergized commitment to excellence. Contents Soft-Skills with Bonnie Low-Kramen ............................................................................................................................................. 1 Signature Sessions ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Communication & Problem Solving......................................................................................................................................... 2 Gender Differences ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Topics for Managers ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Tech-Skills with Vickie Sokol Evans ............................................................................................................................................... 6 Signature Sessions ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Microsoft Office Sessions (which include Word, Excel, PowerPoint) ......................................................................... 7 Microsoft Word................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Microsoft Excel .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Microsoft PowerPoint ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Microsoft Outlook ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10 The Cloud ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Additional Topics Available ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 i SOFT-SKILLS WITH BONNIE LOW-KRAMEN SIGNATURE SESSIONS ASSISTANTS AS LEADERS IN TODAY’S WORKPLACE As the backbone of companies, it is increasingly necessary for assistants to step up as leaders within their roles. This highly interactive workshop is designed to develop and fine-tune the mindset, confidence, and tools needed to succeed with the most challenging job description. It will focus on the soft skills necessary to excel as an assistant including communication techniques and problem-solving strategies. Assistants will learn practical ideas on how to excel as an assistant and how to make the most out of the relationship with managers and fellow staff. When assistants are empowered to take the lead in collaboration with their managers and within their roles, the potential for increased productivity and professional growth is limitless. This workshop will focus on the ways to leverage these powerful relationships resulting in a renewed commitment to excellence in communication and superior customer service. This session includes: How does Leadership work in a support role? Approaching the work in a customized and personalized way specific and responsive to the needs of assistants and their managers What do you do really well? Ways to build healthy, positive relationships between assistants and managers and assistants and fellow staff Importance of mentoring as a key to success Bringing added value to the assistant’s role Finding your voice to speak up in an effective way Moving forward: Strategies to exceed a manager’s highest expectations Bonnie utilizes real-life stories, group exercises and anecdotes supporting and illustrating all of the above. “Amazing workshop! I feel so encouraged and empowered, not just professionally, but personally as well.” ~ Anette E., Executive Assistant, Santa Monica “I can’t believe the amount of new knowledge I’ve acquired. I’ve barely caught my breath. What a great experience!” ~ Angela D., Executive Assistant, L.A. 1 THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM — WORKPLACE BULLYING Never one to duck away from a controversial subject, world-class trainer and author of the bestseller Be the Ultimate Assistant, Bonnie shines a light on an epidemic problem that affects over 65% of Assistants at least once in their careers. If you have ever witnessed or experienced bullying, you know that it takes many forms -- from the “Devil Wears Prada” irrational diva to the co-worker who intentionally withholds important information to the manager who applies rules to certain people and not to others. All of it is bullying that is toxic to a healthy, happy and profitable workplace. As someone who has first-hand experience with bullying, Bonnie has been researching this subject for years and has connected with some of the world’s experts on the subject. She will be focusing on the proactive and realistic solutions that Assistants are implementing that are slowing down the revolving door of staff who are resigning. Together, we will break the silence and eat the elephant…one bite at a time. BE THE ULTIMATE ASSISTANT – SAVING THE DAY EVERY DAY Pulling off miracles – minor to major – has become the norm for today’s professional assistant. You’ll learn practical ideas on how to excel as an assistant and how to make the most out of the relationship with your employer. Bonnie will focus on what it takes to build a healthy, long-lasting, and mutually beneficial partnership. She will share her experiences of creatively solving problems through risk-taking, exploring options, and collaborating with colleagues. Her instantly applicable and entertaining real-life examples will show the path to success – for both assistants and employers – is found by facing our fears and proactively searching for solutions. Bonnie’s stories will resonate with every assistant as she relives the saga of 1988 when she coordinated Olympia’s life for her successful Oscar campaign for “Moonstruck,” the Presidential race for cousin Michael Dukakis, and her own pregnancy with son Adam. COMMUNICATION & PROBLEM SOLVING FOR THE LOVE OF IT: GAME-CHANGING SECRETS FROM A CELEBRITY ASSISTANT Going above and beyond the call not just on some days, but every day, is business as usual for professional assistants. What makes us tick is that we love what we do and that is what keeps us going when the weight of the responsibility sometimes makes it hard to breathe. In a single day we can have enormous triumphs and situations that go horribly wrong. We move through it, learn by burn, and prevail. The challenges motivate us to seek better and more effective solutions. Bonnie Low-Kramen has experienced all of these things and so much more in a 25-year career working as the Personal Assistant to Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis. Bonnie will share stories of life changing moments that define a career. These include the power of speaking up when it counts and how to build respectful and mutually beneficial relationships. Making huge mistakes, celebrating big successes, surviving personal crises, and bringing order to chaos - one situation at a time, one task at a time. You will 2 relate to the moments of epiphany when the clouds clear and the answers appear…as they always do for assistants who love what they do. ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR ASSISTANTS Everyone knows that excellent communication is critical to success in today’s workplace. Communication can make or break an assistant. The ability to find the words to say what you mean and mean what you say is a challenge for many. In this presentation, we will explore ways to make it easier and even fun. You will learn instantly useful tips and tricks for: Public Speaking, Handling Difficult People & Situations, Written Communications including emails and texts, and Non-Verbal Body Language. FIND YOUR VOICE AND CHANGE THE WORLD “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear that we are powerful beyond measure.” Marianne Williamson Many assistants find speaking up a difficult and often impossible assignment. Why? Fears sidetrack and stop us from fulfilling what we know instinctively could change our world. But how? Bonnie Low-Kramen (author of Be the Ultimate Assistant) walked this road as the Personal Assistant to Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis for 25 years. She will share “been there, done that” work/life experiences to provide real- life tools to conquer your own fears about speaking up. What is at stake is nothing less than your own professional and personal growth. Bonnie believes that finding your voice is the number one challenge facing assistants and she is ready to tackle it with you. Are you game?