The administrative professional is a key position in organizations across all sectors. They oversee relationships with team members and external stakeholders, plan, coordinate and manage resources and schedules, and often handle public relations issues and crisis situations. 

This program provides the skills and tools to enhance participants' confidence and influence in their role.  As a result, participants strengthen communications across all levels of their organizations and apply leadership strategies to better manage their varied responsibilities.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Maximizing and improving workplace relationships.
• Expanding communication skills and outreach at all levels.
• Projecting confidence and building influence with those around you.
• Mastering leadership strategies to apply in challenging situations.
• Managing multiple events and projects in an efficient and effective way
• Responding to, understanding and adapting to organizational change.

Program Duration: 6 days | Continuing Education Contact Hours: 42

Program Schedule

Training will be delivered virtually from 1:00 to 4:30 pm, NST on the dates below

Program Content

Building & Enhancing Workplace Relationships
Develop a process to communicate more effectively to drive understanding, alignment, and outcomes with individuals and teams by gaining a better understanding of your behaviour style, and recognizing and adapting to the style of others.

• Use the DISC assessment, validate your natural adapted styles and realize how these styles contribute to your success.
• Recognize why some interactions, activities, events, or people leave you feeling stressed or drained, while others energize you.
• Determine how to adapt your natural style to better connect with others.
• Appreciate the differences of others and understand how these differences can help individuals, teams, and organizations achieve their goals.
• Become a more effective communicator who will diffuse conflict, promote change, and create team 'buy-in' culture.

Confident Leadership: Building Influence & Personal Confidence
Improve professional awareness, build self-assurance and expand interpersonal influence.

• Review the components of professional presence: gravitas, appearance and communication states.
• Practice techniques to improve the components of professional presence.
• Explore how personal values impact your decisions, job performance and interactions with others.
• Develop a professional mission and vision statement to define how you want to be viewed as a professional.
• Practice the components of confidence: body language, verbal language and mindset.
• Master confident communication methods for stronger and confident expression of viewpoints.

Working in an Age-Diverse Environment
Learn how to work with the differences in attitudes and behaviours, and develop them into organizational strengths.

• Examine the attitudes, values, and expectations of the different generations in the workplace.
• Explore what motivates each generation.
• Assess how various leadership styles work to motivate and engage each generation.
• Apply strategies to create an environment that is accepting and respectful of generational
• Recognize how to build on the strengths that different perspectives in the workplace bring.
• Review and apply the critical steps to leading a multigenerational organization to success.

Managing Projects & Events
Develop skills in building, managing and executing successful events and projects of varying sizes.

• Define the criteria for a successful event or project, as well as common challenges to success
• Apply skills to think like an event or project manager
• Assess the nature of an event or project and its environment.
• Develop project plans and event scenarios that can be managed and executed
• Manage stakeholder expectations
• Review the process for event or project initiation and closure

Adapting to Change: Understanding the Change Management Process
Learn strategies to cope with the change transition process and how to create understanding, acceptance, and buy-in.

• Define change management best practices.
• Examine the common causes of poor transition management and how to counter them.
• Review guidelines for effective communication and management of change transitions.
• Create a detailed assessment of a specific transition in your organization.
• Evaluate how workloads are affected, the personal reactions to change, and processes for communicating the change.
• Develop an action plan of next steps for improving change management.

Critical Workplace Communications
Enhance the core skills needed to communicate with clarity in the workplace.

• Review the 'The 3 Cs' in communication and practice strategies for each (clear, concise, consistent)
• Examine the factors that influence the delivery of our communication such as body language, tone and approach, perception, and the quality of our messages
• Strengthen writing and editing skills by reviewing and practicing professional writing and editing methods
• Assess and practice assertive communication skills to improve dialogue with others to express your needs and viewpoints productively

What Our Graduates Say

"I thoroughly value the Advanced Administrative Professionals Program as it gave an opportunity to refresh skills I had previously gained through Gardiner Centre, as well as provided me the experience of learning new topics all related to my career in Administration. Every instructor presented their session through engaging presentations, scenario-based activities, and interactive discussions with others working in Administrative fields. I found the sessions on Managing Multiple Projects & Events and Working in Age-Diverse Environments especially valuable. Since completing the program, I have been using what I learned and sharing this knowledge with others in my office every day."

- Heather Brown, Administrative Assistant | CBDC Labrador

"All topics were perfect for the type of work we do on a day-to-day basis. There is always room for growth and this program has certainly helped me grow more. The "Working in a Multigenerational Environment" topic was one of those that really peaked my interest and certainly opened my eyes to other perspectives - it was great session! The other topics continued to teach me new ways to view things, approach things and most importantly to step back, pause, evaluate and move ahead. I will certainly recommend this program to everyone I know who will benefit from it!"

Program Endorsements & Partnerships

This course qualifies as credits toward the International Association of Business Communicators' (IABC) professional certifications.  

When applying to sit for either the exam for Communications Management Professional (CMP)® or Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP)® or to apply for recertification, Gardiner Centre courses can be an integral part of your application package. 

To learn more about this global standard certification, visit: gcccouncil.org. To inquire about sitting for a certification exam, contact the local IABC NL chapter at iabcnl@gmail.com, or visit: iabcnl.com. 

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Gardiner Centre has reviewed this program and believes it aligns to the International Association of Administrative Professionals CAP Body of Knowledge. However, we encourage each Certified Administrative Professional designee to conduct their own review to ensure the program qualifies for recertification points.

"The Administrative Profession is continuously evolving. Gardiner Centre and the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) recognize this fact and by developing the Advanced Administrative Professionals Program around the IAAP Body of Knowledge, the Gardiner Centre acknowledges the value that our profession brings to every business and industry where we work."

- Debbie Chafe, B.Ed., CAP - IAAP Branch Director for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Instructor(s)

Heather Peters

Heather Peters is a Senior Consultant and the NL Practice Lead for Leadership, HR and Career Solutions at Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette. An insightful leadership coach, solutions-driven human resources consultant and energetic and engaging facilitator, Heather has helped hundreds of leaders and professionals engage teams and organizations in Canada and beyond.

 As a Senior Consultant and Coach, Heather can easily switch hats to deliver distinctive employee, team, leadership, career and HR solutions. She attributes this ability to over 20 years in leadership, entrepreneurial and strategic HR roles in the insurance, IT, human resources, healthcare and financial industries. Heather's hands-on business and organizational experience helps her connect with her clients and create long standing relationships based on trust and exceptional service.  Heather works mainly in the areas of Performance Management, Organizational Development, Compensation, and Policy, Leadership and Team Development, Succession Planning, Change Management and Career Transition.

Heather is passionate about learning and has completed her Master of Employment Relations (MER) from Memorial University, a Bachelor of Commerce (B. Comm.) from the University of Ottawa, is a Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF), and is an Advanced Certified HR Professional with IPMA (IPMA-ACP). This commitment to life-long learning, coupled with 'in the trenches' experience, allows her to translate academic theory into relevant, impact driven solutions for her clients and also her students as a part-time instructor with the Faculty of Business at Memorial University.

Jennifer Kelly

Jennifer has been a facilitator with Gardiner Centre for seven years and teaches courses in cross-cultural communication, cultural safety, workplace communications, presentation skills and more. Jennifer has worked as a curriculum developer with many of Gardiner Centre's clients, including the Government of Nunavut.

Jennifer is committed to creating a safe and inclusive learning space and thrives on mutual learning and sharing in the classroom.

Jennifer has completed training in Trauma Informed Practice (Justice Institute of British Columbia) and Working Effectively With Indigenous Peoples (Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.). Jennifer has also worked extensively with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) subject matter experts to develop courses in critical DEI areas.

Jennifer holds a Master of Arts degree in Applied Communication, a Bachelor of Post-Secondary Education degree (Adult Education), and a certificate in Curriculum Development and Instructional Design (Mount Royal University).

John Fiset

Dr. John Fiset is an associate professor in organizational behaviour and human resource management at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary's University, and an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Business Administration, Memorial University. Dr. Fiset received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in management from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University.

John's research focuses on leadership, team dynamics, and workplace bullying. His research has been published in a number of top academic journals and informs his teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level. He currently sits on the executive board of the Atlantic Schools of Business Conference and the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

Jordan Wright

Jordan Wright has experience working with private, public and not-for-profit organizations, both locally and nationally. Jordan is currently Lead 2025 Canada Games at Memorial University and was previously Director - Operations, Conference Services and Events with Memorial University and was responsible for the Operations of Memorial's Emera Innovation Exchange at Signal Hill Campus along with its Graduate Student Accommodations and Conference and Events services for both the Signal Hill and St. John's Campuses. Immediately prior to this, Jordan managed the Office of the Associate Vice-President (Facilities) at Memorial University, where he worked on the University's overall infrastructure planning, which included capital renewal and new construction projects.

Jordan has also worked with the University's Office of Public Engagement, Gardiner Centre as well as the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour. These positions allowed him to work on a number of marketing and communications, event production, human resource development, consulting, economic and business development projects. Jordan has also been involved with Shad Canada, leading Memorial's program while providing guidance on business plan development, project management and leadership fundamentals.

Jordan holds a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts (French & Economics) from Memorial University, as well as a Masters Certificate in Project Management and Masters Certificate in Leadership from York University Schulich Executive Education Centre. Jordan holds Project Management Institute's (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) designation as well as being a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner. Jordan previously held volunteer roles with the East Coast Trail Association and Horizon TNL, is a past-president of PMI NL Chapter and is a former National Vice-President of Canadian Parents for French.