50 Training Activities for Administrative, Secretarial, and Support Staff

50 Training Activities for Administrative, Secretarial, and Support Staff

by Elizabeth Sanson, Christine Newton
Released July 2007
Publisher(s): HRD Press
ISBN: 9781599960647

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Book description

This manual of activities is written for support staff – the unsung heroes and heroines of organizations who often are the ones for whom there is no training budget. Or who can not be spared from their work to spend time in training. The book presents a wide range of activities and handouts to help teach and apply the most critical competences for administrative, secretarial and support professionals. Titles include: Delivering Bad News, Getting My Point Across, Proud to Be Part of the Team and Getting Organized. It's all here … the activity description, target group, objectives, number of participants, time, materials, important notes for the trainer, method and optional elements. Included is an activity time checklist – so you can choose from exercises that can be completed in 60 minutes, 60-90 minutes and two hours. The 50 activities are conveniently organized into 10 areas: Orientation; Motivation and Empowerment; Caring for Our Customers; Face-to-Face Communication; Telephone Skills; Written Communication; Time Management; Managing Small Projects; Meetings; Presentation Skills. This training can be carried out in short sessions and in-house by supervisors or managers who are not officially trainers. The exercises all actively involve the participants and –because they are fun – have much more impact.

Table of contents

  1. 50 Training Activities for Administrative, Secretarial, and Support Staff
    1. Copyright
    2. Preface
    3. Introduction
      1. Activities
      2. Trainer
      3. Location
      4. Communication
      5. Tips for Trainers
    4. Activity Time Checklist
    5. PART I: Orientation
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 1: You Betcha!
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Important Note for the Trainer
        8. Method
        9. Optional Elements
      3. Activity 2: Have I Got News for You!
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      4. Activity 3: Treasure Trail (1/2)
      5. Activity 3: Treasure Trail (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Materials
        6. Time
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      6. Activity 4: The Office Bible
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Method
    6. PART II: Motivation and Empowerment
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 5: The VIP (1/2)
      3. Activity 5: The VIP (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      4. Activity 6: Proud to be Part of the Team (1/3)
      5. Activity 6: Proud to be Part of the Team (2/3)
      6. Activity 6: Proud to be Part of the Team (3/3)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      7. Activity 7: Totally Professional (1/2)
      8. Activity 7: Totally Professional (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      9. Activity 8: The Path to Success (1/2)
      10. Activity 8: The Path to Success (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      11. Activity 9: How Am I Doing? (1/4)
      12. Activity 9: How Am I Doing? (2/4)
      13. Activity 9: How Am I Doing? (3/4)
      14. Activity 9: How Am I Doing? (4/4)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
    7. PART III: Caring for Our Customers
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 10: How Can I Help You?
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
      3. Activity 11: I know what you said, but what did you mean? (1/2)
      4. Activity 11: I know what you said, but what did you mean? (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      5. Activity 12: If I had to choose... (1/2)
      6. Activity 12: If I had to choose... (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      7. Activity 13: Chants of a Lifetime (1/4)
      8. Activity 13: Chants of a Lifetime (2/4)
      9. Activity 13: Chants of a Lifetime (3/4)
      10. Activity 13: Chants of a Lifetime (4/4)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
      11. Activity 14: Right the First Time! (1/2)
      12. Activity 14: Right the First Time! (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      13. Activity 15: The Promises We Make (1/2)
      14. Activity 15: The Promises We Make (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      15. Activity 16: Delivering Bad News (1/2)
      16. Activity 16: Delivering Bad News (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      17. Activity 17: Mind Your Language! (1/2)
      18. Activity 17: Mind Your Language! (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      19. Activity 18: Beyond the Call of Duty (1/2)
      20. Activity 18: Beyond the Call of Duty (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
    8. PART IV: Face-to-Face Communication
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 19: So what you are saying is... (1/2)
      3. Activity 19: So what you are saying is... (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      4. Activity 20: I'm Sorry, I'll Ask That Again (1/2)
      5. Activity 20: I'm Sorry, I'll Ask That Again (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      6. Activity 21: Getting My Point Across (1/2)
      7. Activity 21: Getting My Point Across (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
      8. Activity 22: No Problem!
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Method
        8. Optional Activity
    9. PART V: Telephone Skill
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 23: Ring, Ring (1/2)
      3. Activity 23: Ring, Ring (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      4. Activity 24: It's Me You Want! (1/2)
      5. Activity 24: It's Me You Want! (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
        9. Notes for the Trainer
      6. Activity 25: My Colleague Can Help You! (1/2)
      7. Activity 25: My Colleague Can Help You! (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
        9. Notes for the Trainer
      8. Activity 26: Behind the Screen (1/2)
      9. Activity 26: Behind the Screen (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Method
        8. Optional Role Play
    10. PART VI: Written Communication
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 27: Words, Words, Words (1/4)
      3. Activity 27: Words, Words, Words (2/4)
      4. Activity 27: Words, Words, Words (3/4)
      5. Activity 27: Words, Words, Words (4/4)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      6. Activity 28: That's it! Period. (1/3)
      7. Activity 28: That's it! Period. (2/3)
      8. Activity 28: That's it! Period. (3/3)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objective
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
      9. Activity 29: What's the Difference? (1/5)
      10. Activity 29: What's the Difference? (2/5)
      11. Activity 29: What's the Difference? (3/5)
      12. Activity 29: What's the Difference? (4/5)
      13. Activity 29: What's the Difference? (5/5)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
      14. Activity 30: With reference to... (1/2)
      15. Activity 30: With reference to... (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      16. Activity 31: The Truth about Sentences (1/2)
      17. Activity 31: The Truth about Sentences (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
        8. Optional Activity
        9. Notes for the Trainer
      18. Activity 32: Making an Impression
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
    11. PART VII: Time Management
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 33: What I Need to Do First (1/3)
      3. Activity 33: What I Need to Do First (2/3)
      4. Activity 33: What I Need to Do First (3/3)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      5. Activity 34: Saying "No" (1/3)
      6. Activity 34: Saying "No" (2/3)
      7. Activity 34: Saying "No" (3/3)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      8. Activity 35: The White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts (1/3)
      9. Activity 35: The White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts (2/3)
      10. Activity 35: The White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts (3/3)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      11. Activity 36: Help! (1/4)
      12. Activity 36: Help! (2/4)
      13. Activity 36: Help! (3/4)
      14. Activity 36: Help! (4/4)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      15. Activity 37: Snakes and Ladders (1/4)
      16. Activity 37: Snakes and Ladders (2/4)
      17. Activity 37: Snakes and Ladders (3/4)
      18. Activity 37: Snakes and Ladders (4/4)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method: Session One
        9. Notes for the Trainer
        10. Method: Session Two
    12. PART VIII: Managing Small Projects
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 38: Up at the Front (1/2)
      3. Activity 38: Up at the Front (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Method
      4. Activity 39: Getting Organized (1/2)
      5. Activity 39: Getting Organized (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Method
      6. Activity 40: Keeping Track (1/2)
      7. Activity 40: Keeping Track (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      8. Activity 41: What Happens Next? (1/2)
      9. Activity 41: What Happens Next? (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
    13. PART IX: Meetings
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 42: Agenda Setting (1/2)
      3. Activity 42: Agenda Setting (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
      4. Activity 43: Just a Minute! (1/2)
      5. Activity 43: Just a Minute! (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
      6. Activity 44: From Notes to Minutes (1/2)
      7. Activity 44: From Notes to Minutes (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
      8. Activity 45: What Does It All Mean? (1/2)
      9. Activity 45: What Does It All Mean? (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Method
    14. PART X: Presentation Skills
      1. Introduction
      2. Activity 46: Investing in Success (1/2)
      3. Activity 46: Investing in Success (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
        9. Notes for the Trainer
      4. Activity 47: Are You Following Me? (1/4)
      5. Activity 47: Are You Following Me? (2/4)
      6. Activity 47: Are You Following Me? (3/4)
      7. Activity 47: Are You Following Me? (4/4)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials and Preparation
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      8. Activity 48: In Rehearsal (1/2)
      9. Activity 48: In Rehearsal (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      10. Activity 49: I'm Glad You Asked That! (1/2)
      11. Activity 49: I'm Glad You Asked That! (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method
      12. Activity 50: I Know I Can Do It! (1/2)
      13. Activity 50: I Know I Can Do It! (2/2)
        1. Description
        2. Target Group
        3. Objectives
        4. Number of Participants
        5. Time
        6. Materials
        7. Preparation
        8. Method

Product information

  • Title: 50 Training Activities for Administrative, Secretarial, and Support Staff
  • Author(s): Elizabeth Sanson, Christine Newton
  • Release date: July 2007
  • Publisher(s): HRD Press
  • ISBN: 9781599960647