As a participant, you will receive TWO robust workbooks, both of which are yours to keep forever.

The first workbook covers the CORE competencies. You will be responsible for reviewing this material thoroughly on your own prior to the start of the virtual program.

This self-directed learning portion of the program covers topics including:

INTRODUCTION: Defining strategic partnership, competency model overview, code of excellence

QUALITIES: Building trust, requirements for success, professional presence and confidence

ORGANIZATION: Space management, paper management, virtual space management

TIME MANAGEMENT: Managing up, task collection and processing, prioritization principles, supporting multiple people, leveraging systems, calendar management, meeting management, follow up systems, email management (for yourself and for your executive)

COMMUNICATION: Defining communication styles, adapting your behaviors, communicating with your executive

CLIENT SERVICE: Respectful gatekeeping, uncovering needs, listening, emotional intelligence, managing emotions in the workplace

TECHNOLOGY: Leveraging tech tools, managing information overload, staying up-to-date

Join Chrissy and your fellow virtual program participants for a welcome event to kick things off in the right way!

This session offers a high-level program and concept overview, materials review, and motivation to get you excited about what’s to come.

As an administrative professional, you have a lot on your plate. It can be easy to get so focused on your own job and growing to-do list that you totally miss important things happening all around you. This limited perspective can reduce your effectiveness and ultimately, shrink your power as an assistant. However, you can choose to widen your perspective by seeking to understand the Big Picture and in doing so, you will have more confidence, courage and competence to step into your role in a bigger way.

In this session, you will learn:

• What the Big Picture consists of, why it matters, and the consequences of failing to expand your understanding of it
• Why “Systems Thinking” is the basis for this level of understanding and how to train yourself to think in this way
• The 7 Points of Perspective assistants must pay attention to (and how to do it)
• Success strategies to leverage your Big Picture Understanding effectively

In today’s working world, we often do things the way we’ve always done them because that’s the way we’ve always done them! Rarely do we stop to re-evaluate our processes and ask, “Is there a better way?”

However, when we look at our established ways of working with fresh eyes, we often find a lot of wasted time, energy, and resources, and many opportunities for streamlining and optimizing how things are done. Admins are in an excellent position to not only identify these opportunities, but advocate for necessary improvements and take the lead in developing more effective processes.

In this session, you will learn…

• Simple strategies for evaluating current processes and analyzing predictable results
• Tools to identify inefficiencies and uncover opportunities for improved outcomes
• How to define new (or revised) processes that are clear and easy-to-follow
• How to “sell” proposed improvements to decision-makers and gain buy-in from the rest of the team

Every day, you encounter problems in the workplace. Some are simple and straightforward, others complex with far-reaching consequneces. In either case, you need to approach problem solving strategeically. Otherwise, you run the risk of creating more problems. 

In this session, you will learn:

• How to identify the root cause of a problem, rather than simply focusing on the “mess”
• A proven step-by-step methodology for solving ANY problem, no matter how big or small, and avoiding unintended consequences in the process
• Tools to expand your critical and creative thinking skills and enhance your problem-solving prowess 

As you rise through the higher levels of admin, decision-making capabilities become more essential with each step. Not only are you making decisions in the course of carrying out your daily responsibilities, but you’re also frequently making decisions on behalf of the person or people you support. It is therefore critical that you demonstrate sound judgement in all decisions, regardless of size or scope.

In this session, you will learn:

• The key elements of a “good” decision—and how to incorporate them in your daily decision-making processes 
• The most common psychological traps that can trick you into making a bad decision
• How to recover and learn from a “bad” decision that backfires

Business leaders routinely cite “anticipation of needs” as one of the most important skills for administrative professionals. But how do you do that? You’re not a mind reader! How are you just supposed to know what people need when they don’t bother to tell you?

Learning to be proactive is the solution. Whether you realize it or not, there are very specific steps you can take to figure out exactly what is needed even without clear instruction. With just a few simple tools, you can learn to predict next steps and take action early. This vital skillset will help you establish more powerful and productive partnerships with the person or people you support. 

In this session, you will learn…

• The 6 essential components for building the Proactive Skillset and strategies for developing your capabilities 
• How to identify and address needs even when they aren’t specifically communicated
• Simple proactive practices to better predict, plan and prepare for the future, and prevent problems along the way 
• A fundamental mindset shift that will change the way you think about your role as a support professional
• How to stay two steps ahead of the person or people you support and become an indispensable part of the team’s success

Nothing is constant—except for change. It’s an inevitable part of modern work life. Even under the best of circumstances, change is a disruptive force and, for many professionals, it’s a trigger for stress, fear and anxiety. If not carefully managed, it can destroy morale, decrease productivity, and wreak havoc on the organization.

As an admin, you are in a unique position to be a champion for change—to not only support others as they adapt to it, but to also advocate for changes that are needed.

This session will show you how to embrace the spirit of change and become an informal change management leader in your organization.

In this session, you will learn:  

• Why humans are biologically hardwired to resist change—and how to effectively manage that natural instinct in yourself
• The 4 stages of transition, how to determine which one people are in and how to provide the right support for each
• How to identify opportunities for positive and productive change—and how to persuasively present your ideas and gain buy-in  
• How to help your leaders manage change more effectively by leveraging proven tools

There will also be two live “office hour” periods where you can meet with Chrissy to ask questions and get support throughout the program.

Join Chrissy and your fellow virtual program participants for a final farewell! 

This session offers a some important notes on implementation and continued learning after the program concludes. 

Participants will have the option to connect in small, self-managed “study groups” to support one another and improve accountability.