Better Business Writing Skills For Administrative Support Professionals

– Master the Ability to Write Clear, Concise and Readable Business Writing.

Making things clear and being understood are very critical aspects of our daily office communication. These objectives are even more difficult to achieve when written communication is involved. The appropriate writing style needs to be identified, sentence structure and choice of words must all be properly selected to transmit the intended message in the clearest possible way.

Course Objectives

This programme will help participants develop their abilities to overcome the difficulties of putting thoughts into words, and forming words into presentable and effective email messages, suggestions and minutes.

At the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

  • develop a clear understanding of the writing process.
  • organize thoughts and ideas effectively.
  • avoid common errors in business writing.
  • reduce false starts and rewrites.
  • write email messages, suggestions and minutes in a well-toned, clear and concise manner.
  • achieve readability and the desired results from internal and external customers.
Course Outline
  1. Fundamentals of Good Business Writing
    • The writing process.
    • Barriers to good business writing.
    • The 7″C”s Principles of effective writing.
    • Organising thoughts and ideas – using Mindmapping or Random Techniques in brainstorming.
    • Possible ways to get started and writing within context.
    • Tone of message, clarity of expressions and style.
    • Good and bad examples of business writing.
    • Grammar power-up – Choice of words, Active/Passive Voice, Malapropism, Tautology, Jargon, Pompous language, Ambiguity, Sentence Structure, Tenses, Punctuation, Abbreviations.
  2. Types of Written Messages
    • Email correspondence for action, collections, complaints and sales.
    • Business netiquette.
    • Job-related exercises and case studies.
    • Writing suggestions for work improvement.
  3. Minutes Writing
    • The administrator’s duties before, during and after meetings.
    • Agenda, previous minutes, chairman’s agenda, meeting planning guide.
    • What to look out for when ranking importance of topics and emphasizing coverage in note-taking and presentation?.
    • Mistakes encountered in note-taking and how to overcome them?
  4. Summary and application back-at-work
    • How to be write more effectively?
    • How to enjoy writing?
Training Methodology

A highly interactive adult-focused programme consisting lecture input, case studies, discussions, group work, individual and team practices, assignment, quizzes and game exercises.

Target Group

For administrators, secretaries, administrative assistants and other support personnel who are committed to write better, faster and more effectively.

Testimonials

“My writing is more concise as a result of the training. I’ve received strong tools, ongoing support, and knowledge.”
– Account Executive, ABB Industry

“My writing is more concise as a result of the training. I’ve received strong tools, ongoing support, and knowledge.”
– Human Resources Executive, Wah Yang Production

“Feedback from the instructor was very helpful and highlighted some areas of my writing that I need to be more aware of and work on going forward.”
– Secretary, Toshiba Singapore

“I became more aware of the gaps in my writing capabilities. The instructions, exercises and the feedback help me to even more focus on the receivers/readers and the action I expect from them.”
– Admin Manager, Nanyang Polytechnic

Trainer

better business writing skills for administrative support professionals

Catherine Syn has conducted both public and in-company seminars and workshops in Secretarial & Office Administrative Practices, Business Correspondence, Report, Proposal and Minutes Writing, Customer Service, Handling Complaints & The Difficult Customer, Teambuilding, Time & Stress Management, Communication & Relationship Management. She has been working closely with individual client companies on the development and design of training programmes to their specific organisation’s training and developmental needs. An approved lecturer with the Singapore Ministry of Education, Catherine studied Business in Australia, was a Corporate Member of the Institute Of Administrative Management (U.K.) and a WDA ACTA certified trainer for WSQ courses including Certified Service Professional. She has held the positions of Executive, Manager, Corporate Trainer and Consultant for the past three decades.

Since 1990, she has been training management professionals, managers, executives, secretarial, administrative, front-line sales, engineering, operations and service staff of both public and private sectors in Singapore, ASEAN and China. As an experienced trainer, she has successfully applied service qualities principles and competency assessments in all her communication courses in the areas of business writing, face-to-face communication, customer service, managing difficult customer-situations using effective interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills. A versatile and bi-lingual trainer, she relates well to all participants and has excellent delivery and presentation skills that meet the motivational needs of each and every participant.

Among the many companies she has provided training for, some of them are: Ritz Carlton, Swiss Hotel Merchant Court, Marina Mandarin, Becton Dickenson, Sony Asia Pacific, NTU, Singapore, Ngee Ann and Nanyang Polytechnics, ZhengHua Primary School, Carrier Transicold, Marsh Brokers, China Taiping Insurance, AIA, Etiqa, Liberty Insurance, SIA, Komatsu, DSO, DFS, NYK, AET Tankers, Du Pont, Senoko Power, John Crane, Hewitt, SembCorp Marine, Nippon Express, Nippon Koa, German Centre, Tanaka Electronics, SOXAL, Speedy Tech, NatSteel, Philips Singapore, Teck Wah, PSA, LTA, HDB, CPF, DSTA, RSAF, MCMD, Ministry Of Education, Traffic Police, Ministry of Home Affairs, GSMB, CSIT, CAAS, CIAS, SATS, LTA, A-Star, Toshiba, AWWA, SingStat, Department of Statistics, Crown Worldwide, Schenker, Keppel Shipyard, Alpine Engineering Services, Sanmina-SCI, Geotronics, ABB Industry, ICPAS, Loreal, Shisedo, Sa Sa Cosmetics, Cummins Diesel, EM Services, Esmaco, M1, Sankyu, Snap-On Tools, Makino, Bureau Serve, PerkinElmer Singapore, ST Aerospace Engineering, Chartered Semiconductors, AGC Flatglass, Hunting Energy, Orange Business, Cristofori, LF Contennial, Wah Yang Production, Malayan Natural Liquidfied Petroleum & Gas in Sarawak, Coca-Cola In Thailand, Maldives International Airport and MNCs in China.

SPF

The course is very informative and was very well delivered by the lecturer.

SPF

SPF

The course contents were clear and precise. The instructor was able to keep the class highly motivated and engaged.

SPF

ICA

From this course it clears up my misconception regarding counseling in terms of the outcome that shouldn’t come from me. I realized my role of counseling people. Thank you for the valuable sharing.

ICA

IDA

Mr. Praga is very good and thus makes one thinks hard and deep. Thank you.

IDA

Singapore Customs

The role-play was helpful. MICA This was a very interactive and engaging workshop. I get to learn a lot.

Singapore Customs

Singapore Customs

Has gained several insights into the topic and has been beneficial with the several coaching model available to work with.

Singapore Customs

MCYS

Good trainer, enjoyed his course.

MCYS

SPF

A very good course with spiritual enlighten and very pleasing to my soul. Well done! Brilliant lecturer!

SPF

HAS

Trainer is good who love to share his knowledge and methods.

HAS

NUHS

Rodney has provided alternatives to handle employees in different work context. Through effective communication tactics and K.S.A approach, employees faces can be understood and furthermore improve on their performance.

NUHS

NUHS

Rodney was clear with his presentation and was able to provide comfortable alternative solutions to manage difficult situations.

NUHS

Anonymous

Dr Gabriel, thank you so much. Will live by your parting advice: It is not knowledge but consciousness of body language! Thanks again. Great course! Gabriel is really an experienced person.

Anonymous

SEAP

I was greatly interested in this course. Thank you.

SEAP

AIA

This is an excellent program to improve the aesthetics and impact of PowerPoint without making it looks cheap or amateurish. I’m amazed at how my skills improved by almost 300%.

AIA

MOM

This course is very engaging delivery.

MOM

ITE

Will recommend to colleagues to pick up this course.

ITE

SPF

Very enlightening and enjoyable session. Thank you for the knowledge.

SPF

NYP

Previously attended michael’s course. Finds that he constantly updates materials and customizes to suit class needs. Addresses case studies brought up in class to make it appreciable throughout.

NYP

PT Bukit Makmur Mandiri Utama

This course is good with the role play to practice.

PT Bukit Makmur Mandiri Utama

Training Strategies

A good course.

Training Strategies

MCYS

This course has added value to my current work.

MCYS

Ngee Ann Polytechnic

The course is useful and has a number of useful conflict resolution skills that I will most certainly use.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Ministry of Education

Comprehensive with good and realistic practical tips, stimulating and thoughts provoking.

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Manpower

Trainer is engaging, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

Ministry of Manpower

Republic Polytechnic

This course is good and fun.

Republic Polytechnic

Jurong Town Council

This course has been excellent and an eye-opener. It is most definitely very informative and appropriate. It is also a reality check for all of us.

Jurong Town Council

Flotech Controls Pte Ltd

Very good course – practical!

Flotech Controls Pte Ltd

Singapore Prisons

Enjoyed the entire course and the rainer is very good in applying examples relevant to the workplace.

Singapore Prisons

Ideal Foods Pte Ltd

Very practical and interesting.

Ideal Foods Pte Ltd

People’s Association

Nancy is a wonderful instructor. She is very knowledgeable.

People’s Association

Institute of Education

Nancy is already a motivator. Allows me to see things at different angles. Totally agree with her that a lot of situation is about managing oneself. Enjoy her course totally.

Institute of Education

KK Hospital

Great course. Exceptional Facilitator.

KK Hospital

Singapore Prisons

Overall is good. I have learnt a lot. Thank you so much Nancy.

Singapore Prisons

Thye Hua Kuan Hospital

Good sharing of experiences by the trainer. I have enjoyed this 1 day seminar.

Thye Hua Kuan Hospital

Nanyang Technological University

I will recommend this to my colleagues who have negative attitude towards their life, so that they can maybe change their mindset after that.

Nanyang Technological University

WWW Cargo Pte Ltd

Nancy is very clear, engaging and insightful. She is able to tap on her vast experience to share with us ideas and ways to deal with different kinds of people. Great!

WWW Cargo Pte Ltd

Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Duration

1 Day

Cost

  S$ 500 (Nett)

Submit a Comment

RSS
Follow by Email