The Elite Executive Assistant From Support to Strategic Partner 10-11 Nov 26

Course Venue: Dubai
Course Date: 10th, 11th November 2026
Course Facilitator: Expert

Course Overview:
his two-day immersive programme is designed to transform Executive Assistants (EAs) and Personal Assistants (PAs) into confident, strategic business partners. Through interactive sessions, participants will explore communication mastery, emotional intelligence, influence, workload management, and the ability to embrace change. The course blends practical tools, proven models, and reflective exercises to equip EAs with the skills needed to thrive in modern, dynamic organizations.

Who should Attend:
EAs, Executive PAs, Office Managers of CEO, COO, CFO, CLO, CRO, CIO and all HODs,
• Personal Assistants
• Executive Assistants
• Senior Secretaries
• Administrative Assistants
• Office managers
• Admin officers
• Admin Team leaders
• Executive / Business support

Course Agenda:

DAY 1

Session One: The EA as an advocate for learning

• Conduct a Personal SWOT to gain feedback on your own career and learning journey.
• Foster a learning mindset.
• Leverage feedback as a learning tool.
• Be able to give and receive high quality feedback.
• Understand the feedback process.
• Be able to apply feedback models to promote learning
Foster a learning mindset.
• Understand the “Learning Ladder” and how to maximise every situation for learning.
• Acknowledge that “everyone knows something you don’t” and “every situation is an opportunity to learn”.

Session Two : The EA as a Communication Expert : Assertiveness
• Appreciate the value of Assertive Communication.
• Define Assertiveness as “It’s as easy as ABC” with an introduction to the ABC of Behaviour.
• Understand the 3Vs of Communication and align these to Assertiveness.
• Be introduced to the AIDA model to format your assertive responses.
• Apply the AIDA model in challenging situations.

Session Three : The EA as a Communication Expert : Tailoring your communication
• Understand how you make sense of your world and the preferred communication style of yourself and your leadership team.
• See, hear & feel your world – understand how your senses determine your communication.
• Understand different communication styles.
• Align to Nigel Risner’s “Zoo Animals” analogy Identfiy the “dos” and “donts” of communication with different personalities
• Develop flexibility in your communication style to optimise working relationships.

Session Four : The EA as a Communication Expert : Listening
• Identify the barriers to effective listening.
• Develop strategies to overcome barriers to listening.
• Align listening to the 3Vs.
• Be adept at employing “whole body” and “active listening”.

Session Five : The EA as a Communication Expert : Questioning
• Be aware of the Open Questions Model.
• Build a portfolio of effective questions to ensure you and your team achieve success.
Session Six : The EA as a Strategic Business Partner
• Explore the meaning of strategy.
• Learn what makes a successful strategy through analysis of both the internal and external environments.
• Understand Mission, Vision and Strategy in relation to renowned organisations.
• Identify your organisation’s Mission, Vision and Strategy and consider your fit and contribution.
• Know how to define stakeholders.
• Conduct a stakeholder mapping exercise to effectively manage stakeholders.

DAY 2

Session Seven : The EA as an Emotionally Intelligent Leader
• Explore leadership and management.
• Be able to define EI/EQ.
• Understand the key components of EI.
• Appreciate the benefit of recognising, understanding and managing emotions.
• Build a portfolio of emotional labels.

Session Eight : The EA as a Positive Influencer
• Understand and recognise “enabling” and “limiting” beliefs that are crucial for your overall success.
• Develop flexibility in order to change limiting beliefs to promote assertiveness, motivation and confidence in the office environment.
• Recognise the benefit of curiosity versus judgment.
• Understand your privileged position as a PA – you see, hear and experience what’s happening in your organisation from the shop floor to the board room table.
• Leverage your unique influential position to put forward your ideas, proposals and suggestions.
• Apply the IMPACT structure to your messaging.
• Apply the Power of Three to create IMPACT.

Session Nine: The EA as a Workload Management Pro
• Be able to juggle competing demands.
• Use a prioritisation matrix to plan your workload.
• Develop strategies to overcome procrastination.
• Maximise your work efficiency through effective time management.
• Appreciate the value and importance of Delegation as a strategy to managing and prioritising workload.
• Acknowledge why people don’t delegate.
• Identify the “what” “when” “who” and “how” of delegation.
• Be able to maintain your work boundaries.
• Say “no” professionally and courteously.
• Use 6 different ways of saying “no”.
• Deliver your “no” message with impact.
• Focus on managing your personal energy.
• Recognise that “You can’t pour from an empty cup – take care of yourself first”.
• Understand the four energy dimensions.
• Identify what depletes you of energy and commit to limiting these things.
• Identify what rejuvenates your energy and commit to positive changes in your routine.
Session Ten : The EA as a Change Agent
• Walk through The Change House to understand change impact .
• Recognise the value of stepping out of your comfort zone.
• Leverage change as an opportunity to grow and develop, including embracing AI and technology.

Learning Review and consolidation
• Identification of the key learning points from Day Two
• Identification of the key learning points from the Programme.
• Certificate presentation, acknowledgement and celebration of learning success.