Ask any office manager what their day actually looks like, and "routine" is rarely the word they reach for — it's closer to back-to-back meetings, competing priorities, and constant pressure from every direction. This course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy is built for exactly that reality, giving office managers, secretaries, and administrative staff the skills to turn a stressful, reactive job into a confident, high-impact one.

Across the sessions, participants pick up practical tools for reading faster, communicating clearly in speech and writing, running productive meetings, managing pressure, and organising both digital and paper work — skills that shape how effective, and how well-regarded, their offices become.

Who Should Attend?

• Office managers.
• Secretaries and administrative staff.
• Anyone assigned administrative or organisational responsibilities.
• Receptionists and front-office staff.
• Anyone looking to build skills in managing priorities, meetings, and communication under pressure.

What This Course Delivers

• A clear picture of how the office management role has changed, and what it demands today.
• Speed-reading and note-taking techniques that save real time.
• Verbal and written communication skills for dealing with every party an office manager works with.
• Time management and administrative methods that keep work organised.
• Practical skills for planning and running efficient meetings.
• Confidence speaking in front of an audience.

Module 1: The Modern Office Manager

• How the office management role has changed and what today's challenges demand.
• Adapting to current variables instead of relying on outdated routines.
• Principles of ethics and professional conduct in office work.

Module 2: Working Faster — Speed Reading and Note-Taking

• Speed reading strategies and how to apply them to daily paperwork.
• Common obstacles to speed reading and how to work around them.
• Turning fast reading into useful, well-organised notes.

Module 3: Communication That Actually Lands

• Core communication skills and their weight in an office manager's daily work.
• Active listening as a professional skill, not just a soft one.
• Reading and using body language professionally.
• Modern methods of persuasion and understanding different personalities.

Module 4: Meetings, Agendas, and Public Speaking

• Planning and managing meetings, appointments, and agendas efficiently.
• Time management skills specific to running meetings well.
• Building confidence and skill in public speaking.

Module 5: Written Communication and Digital Organisation

• Why written communication matters so much for office management.
• Positive, purposeful writing skills, plus email etiquette and best practice.
• Organising and archiving mail, and managing digital and paper files.
• Using automation tools to raise everyday work efficiency.

Module 6: Managing Pressure and Relationships

• Common pressures in office management and how to manage them effectively.
• Self-control and anger management under stress.
• Building strong relationships with internal and external clients and contacts.
• Organising the workplace to make better use of time and reduce stress.

Module 7: Growing in the Role

• Continuous personal development and building a career in office management.
• Turning routine, stressful work into creative, high-impact work.
• Practical applications and case studies drawn from real office environments.