Executive assistants and administrative assistants in general have the same purpose: they all support someone else's work—usually an executive—by handling or supervising office duties.
However, an administrative assistant is specifically for managers and mid-level executives, while executive assistants are a senior office staff member who is assigned to a top executive, that involves supervising and training other office staff and tackling tasks that could have a dramatic effect on the success of a company.
Without their work and organization, it would be very difficult for an executive to fulfill their functions efficiently, so the training of the executive and administrative assistant benefits both the company and the person itself.
One way for assistants to grow professionally is through job-specific conferences. These not only give them a break from their daily tasks, but also allow them to acquire relevant skills, give a space for strategic thinking and the possibility to exchange experiences with other executive and administrative assistants.
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Administrative assistance conferences in 2021
Whether virtual or in person, these conferences cater to the specific needs of executive and administrative assistants. So if your personal assistant doesn't suggest them as part of their training, they will surely be flattered if you, as their boss, suggest them and give the necessary support (in time and money) for them to attend.
8th Annual Global Executive Assistant Summit
Prepared by Vonlanthen, this event will run from June 10 to 11, 2021. Upon registration, the assistant enters this community of administrative professionals, who meet every year to collaborate, share successes, learn about the latest trends and reconnect.
This year will undoubtedly bring new challenges over the previous one, but thanks to the shared experiences of others facing the same professional challenges, your executive assistant will be much more efficient.
Admingling Event Series
Hosted by OfficeNinjas in multiple locations and multiple dates, these events take place outside of business hours.
The OfficeNinja team ensures that these compact and personalized events meet the needs of their participants and establish an open and relevant dialogue.
APC Executive Assistants Summit
Organized by the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP), it will take place in Chicago, IL, from September 19-22, 2021.
This meeting is designed for entrepreneurs who occupy high-level positions, with rigorous training that encourages, among other skills, leadership, problem solving and interpersonal skills.
Be the Ultimate Assistant 2-Day Workshops
It is organized by Bonnie Low-Kramen, during various dates throughout the year.
Just the name to know what this workshop is about: getting the tools to be the ultimate assistant. Spanning 17 hours, the workshop helps executive assistants who need to hone tools such as communication, ethics, organization, event planning, and much more.
Joining Bonnie Low-Kramen, a former assistant to Olympia Dukakis, is Vickie Sokol Evans, a global expert in practical technology skills. This workshop also guarantees a subsequent follow-up of the participant.
Executive Leadership Support Forum
The conference organizers are Q1 Productions, and the forum takes place at various locations and dates throughout the year. Its mission is to provide executive leadership support forums to enhance the profile and professional lives of executive assistants around the world.
It focuses on the essential skills, but delves into the personal needs of the assistant to complete their vision of success, which includes self-reflection and confidence. One of the highlights of this forum is the interviews with speakers such Al-Hussein, senior consultant advisor to The Duncan Group.
Executive Secretary Live
This event, presented by the Executive Secretary Magazine, is about to begin! Globally, it will start from March 17-18, 2021, but will have editions in London (September 17-18, 2021), Seattle (November 13-14, 2021) and Wellington (May 20-21, 2021).
The goal is to create top-level training on par with the senior leader forthe assistant supports. Executive assistants are often required to perform roles for which they have not been adequately trained, so these conferences provide a framework for hands-on training for senior executive assistants. Then, the idea is to polish existing skills and acquire new ones.
Franklin Covey On Leadership World Tour
Hosted by the speaker Franklin Covey, at multiple locations and on various dates throughout the year, the On Leadership World Tour focuses on leadership skills. Because, definitely, an executive assistant is also a leader and they need to direct others so that their own manager does not have to deal directly with every detail or decision.
Thanks to this event, the executive assistant will be able to delve into the management styles of amazing leaders, as well as cultivate essential skills for leadership, from character traits to habits.
IAAP Summit
This event is organized by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and will be held in National Habor, MD.
Its central theme, like other years, is professional growth. An assistant needs to stay at the forefront of fundamental and new skills, so that they are ready to face any challenge that their company requires.
With speakers like Colette Carlson, founder of Speak Your Truth, Inc and Lucy Brazier, CEO of Marcham Publishing, some of the conference topics to be delivered have already been advanced, such as stress management and the art of accelerated resilience; or professional acceleration.
Leader Assistant Live
It is hosted by Jeremy Burrows, creator and host of The Leader Assistant Podcast. It will be in Denver on September 25, and in San José on October 3 of this year.
These virtual events offer affordable conference tickets, as well as high-value training from proven speakers who understand what it's like to be an executive assistant. This year's topics will be communication, calendar management, artificial intelligence, emotional intelligence, leadership, negotiation, and much more.
The Indispensable Assistant
This workshop is prepared by SkillPath on various dates and places throughout the year. In one day, it allows executive assistants to hone skills that are not in any instruction manual, such as stress management, assertiveness, and delegation techniques.
There is also no shortage of topics such as dealing with correspondence, Parkinson’s Law to claim wasted time or useful ideas to smooth and improve relationships with senior executives.