Who Should Attend:

Administrative assistants, executive assistants, and employees in administrative or service-oriented roles.

Course Overview:

This is a three-day series of classes which provides utility-specific information directed toward administrative assistants and executive secretaries who want to become more effective in managing their tasks and in communicating with others. By registering for all three classes, you will receive a discount off the total registration fee.

Administrative Professionals Series: Positive Assertiveness in the Workplace

Administrative professionals are in a position to communicate on behalf of their bosses and to communicate information to their bosses that is necessary for good decision making. This one-day course will reiterate that there is a right and a wrong way for workers to state their case. The right way is in a forthright, positively assertive manner. Attendees will gain insight into how to avoid pitfalls that get in the way of positive communication and how to operate with more confidence. A section on confidently making decisions will also be covered. The result will be employees whose communication and decision-making skills are enhanced.

Administrative Professionals Series: Managing Time, Change, and Stress

In today’s workplace, employees are experiencing tremendous challenges that pull them in many directions all at once. There are tremendous changes underway in organizational strategies and priorities. Without strategies for better organization, dealing with constant change, and managing stressors and the resulting stress, employees cannot maintain the productivity and quality demanded of them. This course will focus on the important personal skills of flexibility, self-control, self-determination, and stress mitigation. Specific subjects covered will include analyzing how time is spent, controlling time-wasters (such as interruptions and procrastination), and identifying major changes and their response in the past and going forward.

Administrative Professionals Series: Resolving Conflict in the Workplace

Collaboration among co-workers to meet the organization’s goals has never been more important. Organizations are expecting employees at all levels to work together--often across functions--to solve problems and make decisions that were once the exclusive responsibility of management. This new way of working also creates new opportunities for conflict making. Resolving conflict is a necessary skill for all workers. This one-day course provides participants with the skills to turn conflict into opportunities to achieve positive results. Attendees will explore their past experiences and habits in dealing with conflicts, learn new ways of thinking about conflict, understand choices they have in conflict, as well as analyzing their individual level of emotional intelligence. They will leave with tips and techniques to keep their emotions in check, to help others go from unreasonable to reasonable, and to have difficult but necessary conversations.

Course Instructor:

Debra Ballard, Continuum Education + Training

Course Schedule:

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on the first day, and the classes will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Lunch, along with morning and afternoon breaks, will be provided every day.

Course Location and Hotel Information:

Hotel Theodore
1531 7th Avenue
Seattle, WA 980101
(206) 621-1200

Room rate: $189 for a single/double

Please book your room as soon as possible, but no later than November 6, 2020, to secure this rate. Mention that you are coming in with the NWPPA group when booking your reservation.

Course Fees:

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations are accepted, with full refund, if request is made at least 30 days prior to the course. Within 30 days, fees are as follows: 15-29 days, $100; 1-14 days or "no show," 100 percent of registration fee. When possible, please send a substitute instead of canceling. NWPPA does not charge a fee for substitutions.

Continuing Hours:

This course qualifies for 18 continuing hours. Certificates are issued upon full completion of the course.