About This Course
In every high-performing organisation, effective administrative and support staff are the backbone of operational excellence. From coordinating complex schedules and managing correspondence to facilitating meetings and supporting senior leadership, the modern administrative assistant is expected to perform at a level that demands professionalism, discretion, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills. Yet many support staff receive little formal training to help them meet these expectations with confidence.
The Support Staff and Administrative Assistant Training offered by TrainingComplex is a carefully structured five-day programme that addresses the full spectrum of competencies required in today's administrative roles. Whether working in a corporate office, government department, NGO, or international organisation, participants will gain the tools and techniques needed to manage their responsibilities more effectively, communicate with greater impact, and contribute meaningfully to their teams and institutions.
This course goes beyond basic office skills. It builds professional identity, sharpens analytical thinking, and strengthens the soft skills that distinguish truly exceptional support professionals. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of their strategic value within the organisation and with practical frameworks they can immediately apply to their daily work.
TrainingComplex has designed this programme to be highly interactive and contextually relevant, drawing on real-world scenarios faced by administrative professionals across sectors in Africa and beyond. By the end of the training, participants will not only perform their roles more capably — they will approach their work with renewed confidence, clarity, and purpose.
Who Should Attend
- Administrative assistants and office secretaries
- Executive and personal assistants
- Front office and reception staff
- Office managers and team coordinators
- Registry and records management officers
- Support staff in government ministries and public institutions
- Administrative personnel in NGOs and international organisations
- New hires transitioning into office support roles
Learning Objectives
- Understand the strategic role and professional responsibilities of support staff within modern organisations
- Apply effective written and verbal communication techniques in professional settings
- Manage time, priorities, and workloads using proven organisational tools and methods
- Produce accurate, well-structured business documents including reports, emails, letters, and minutes
- Coordinate meetings, travel, and events with efficiency and attention to detail
- Maintain professional records and filing systems in both physical and digital environments
- Handle telephone, email, and in-person interactions with confidence and professionalism
- Demonstrate appropriate workplace etiquette, confidentiality, and ethical conduct
- Build productive working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and external stakeholders
- Use common office technology tools and software to enhance administrative productivity
Course Modules
Module 1: The Modern Administrative Professional: Role, Identity, and Value
- Evolution of the administrative role in contemporary organisations
- Strategic value of support staff to leadership and organisational performance
- Professional identity, mindset, and sense of ownership in the role
- Core competencies expected of today's administrative assistant
- Understanding organisational structure and where support roles fit
- Setting personal performance standards and professional goals
Module 2: Professional Communication in the Workplace
- Principles of clear, concise, and respectful workplace communication
- Verbal communication: tone, clarity, active listening, and assertiveness
- Non-verbal communication: body language, eye contact, and professional presence
- Adapting communication style to different audiences and hierarchies
- Handling difficult conversations and sensitive topics with diplomacy
- Cross-cultural communication in diverse workplace environments
Module 3: Business Writing Essentials
- Principles of effective business writing: clarity, brevity, and correctness
- Drafting professional emails: structure, tone, and etiquette
- Writing formal business letters and internal memoranda
- Producing clear and accurate meeting agendas and minutes
- Formatting and proofreading documents to professional standards
- Common business writing errors and how to avoid them
Module 4: Telephone and Digital Communication Etiquette
- Professional telephone handling: answering, transferring, and message-taking
- Managing incoming and outgoing calls on behalf of executives
- Email management: inbox organisation, response timeliness, and email chains
- Instant messaging and virtual communication platforms in the workplace
- Handling irate or difficult callers calmly and professionally
- Digital communication security and confidentiality best practices
Module 5: Time Management and Personal Productivity
- Identifying time wasters and common productivity pitfalls in administrative roles
- Prioritisation frameworks: the Eisenhower Matrix and ABC priority method
- Planning and scheduling work using calendars, planners, and to-do tools
- Managing multiple tasks and deadlines without sacrificing quality
- Handling interruptions and maintaining focus in open-plan offices
- Building daily routines and habits that sustain high performance
Module 6: Diary, Calendar, and Meeting Management
- Managing executives' diaries and scheduling appointments effectively
- Coordinating multi-party meetings across time zones and locations
- Preparing comprehensive meeting packs and distributing them on time
- Facilitating meetings: room setup, equipment checks, and attendance registers
- Recording accurate minutes and tracking action items to completion
- Cancellations, reschedules, and managing last-minute changes professionally
Module 7: Records Management and Information Handling
- Principles of records management: creation, storage, retrieval, and disposal
- Designing and maintaining effective physical filing systems
- Digital records management: folder structures, naming conventions, and version control
- Classifying and protecting confidential and sensitive information
- Compliance with institutional records policies and data protection regulations
- Transitioning from paper-based to hybrid and fully digital records environments
Module 8: Office Technology and Productivity Tools
- Effective use of Microsoft Word for professional document preparation
- Microsoft Excel basics for administrative data tracking and simple reporting
- Microsoft Outlook and Google Workspace for email and calendar management
- Creating professional presentations using PowerPoint or Google Slides
- Virtual meeting tools: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet for administrative support
- Using shared drives, cloud storage, and collaborative document platforms
Module 9: Event, Travel, and Logistics Coordination
- Planning and coordinating internal and external events from start to finish
- Venue sourcing, catering coordination, and equipment logistics
- Preparing travel itineraries, booking flights, hotels, and ground transport
- Managing travel documentation: visas, per diem forms, and expense claims
- Communicating with vendors, service providers, and event participants
- Post-event evaluation, feedback collection, and documentation
Module 10: Professional Ethics, Etiquette, and Workplace Conduct
- Understanding confidentiality obligations and information ethics in administrative roles
- Workplace etiquette: dress code, punctuality, desk decorum, and professional manners
- Navigating office politics and maintaining positive relationships with all levels of staff
- Handling gifts, conflicts of interest, and sensitive organisational information
- Building a reputation for reliability, integrity, and discretion
- Personal development planning and continuing professional growth as an administrator
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have at least six months of experience in an administrative, secretarial, or office support role, or be actively preparing to enter such a role. Basic literacy and numeracy skills are required, along with the ability to communicate in English. Familiarity with standard office environments and common tools such as email and word processing software is helpful but not mandatory.
Training Methodology
- Role-play exercises simulating real interactions with executives, clients, and colleagues to build communication confidence
- Hands-on drafting workshops where participants write and peer-review business emails, letters, and meeting minutes
- Case studies drawn from administrative challenges in African corporate, government, and NGO settings
- Time management simulation exercises using scheduling tools and competing-priority scenarios
- Group discussions exploring professional ethics, confidentiality, and workplace conduct dilemmas
- Practical records organisation exercises using both physical filing frameworks and digital folder structures
- Personal action planning sessions to help each participant apply learning directly to their own role
- Short video scenarios followed by facilitated debriefs on office etiquette and stakeholder communication
Organisational Benefits
- Improved efficiency and output quality across all administrative functions
- Reduced errors in correspondence, scheduling, and records management
- Stronger internal communication and coordination between departments
- Enhanced professional image and service culture at the frontline of the organisation
- Better support to senior management, resulting in higher leadership productivity
- More proactive and self-directed administrative staff who require less supervision
- Reduced onboarding time and performance gaps for newly appointed support staff
- Greater staff confidence and motivation, reducing turnover in support roles
Where Is The Support Staff and Administrative Assistant Training Offered?
This course runs in-person across: Johannesburg, Nairobi, Nakuru, Kampala, Pretoria, Abuja, Kisumu, Addis Ababa, Naivasha, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Accra, Dubai, Mombasa, Cape Town, Riyadh, Kigali, Lagos, plus Live Virtual (online) cohorts. Browse live dates for your city below.
Upcoming Schedules
| Location | Format | Dates | Price |
|---|
| Johannesburg, South Africa |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,500 |
| Nairobi, Kenya |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
KES 105,000 |
| Nakuru, Kenya |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Kampala, Uganda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Pretoria, South Africa |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,300 |
| Abuja, Nigeria |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,800 |
| Kisumu, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,400 |
| Naivasha, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Arusha, Tanzania |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,100 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
24 Oct 2026 – 15 Nov 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,300 |
| Zanzibar, Tanzania |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,500 |
| Accra, Ghana |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
+232 more dates — view live schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior administrative experience to attend this course?
While the course is designed primarily for those already working in or preparing for administrative roles, no advanced experience is required. Participants with as little as six months of office exposure will benefit fully from the programme.
Will I receive a certificate upon completing the course?
Yes. All participants who attend and complete the five-day programme will receive a Certificate of Completion from TrainingComplex, which can be added to your professional portfolio or CV.
Is this course suitable for executive assistants as well as general support staff?
Absolutely. The programme covers both foundational competencies and higher-level administrative skills such as executive diary management, meeting coordination, and stakeholder communication, making it highly relevant for both executive assistants and general office support staff.
What technology or equipment do I need to bring?
For in-person sessions, TrainingComplex provides all necessary training materials and stationery. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet if available for the hands-on technology module, though shared devices can be arranged if needed.
Can organisations enrol multiple staff members from the same team?
Yes, and we actively encourage group enrolments. Teams that train together tend to apply learning more consistently. TrainingComplex also offers customised in-house delivery for organisations wishing to train larger groups at their own premises.
