World Class Trainer, Bestselling Author & Creator of the Bakerwrite Speedwriting System
After over 20 years working as a secretary and then PA, Heather established Baker Thompson Associates in 2000 to enable Office Professionals to achieve their potential for their career development and the success of their organisation.
All her sessions are very much discussion based to ensure relevance to attendees’ specific needs. The training is informal and relaxed and is aimed at building delegates’ confidence and appreciation of their value, as well as enhancing their skills.
She now travels around the world meeting PAs, EAs and administrators of all levels and from all types of companies. She is the author of 4 Amazon top ten selling books and the creator of the BakerWrite speedwriting system. She is also an NLP Practitioner, TAP.cert trainer and winner in 2017 and 2018 of the North West Enterprise Awards Best Administrative Staff Training Provider.
Heather is proud to be a Prince’s Trust Business Mentor and a supporter of Isipho Admin in South Africa.
The Exceptional PA
The Exceptional PA
A 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 day course covering skills needed by an Exceptional PA. All sessions start with the vital basics of communications, confidence and assertiveness. Topics covered could include: organising the work load, interpersonal skills, NLP techniques, lead the partnership with the manager, presentation skills, minute taking, event planning, benefit from change, personal effectiveness, emotional intelligence, business writing, influencing, goal setting.
The Art of Communication
The Art of Communication
A 45-60 minute presentation
Heather will give you tips on how to communicate intelligently to improve relationships, be truly professional and feel good about yourself.
We all communicate naturally; most find it impossible not to… but we don’t always communicate effectively.
This session will give you tips on how to:
– Communicate intelligently to improve relationships, be truly professional and feel good about yourself
– Understand the different ways we communicate, including written communication
– Interact effectively on social media and understand techniques to influence colleagues and managers
Minute Taking
Minute Taking
One day, half day or 45-60 minutes presentation
At the end of this one day course delegates will be able to show their understanding of the meeting, agenda and minute taking cycle; will have developed the role of the minute taker and be able to work successfully with the chairperson; and will show increased confidence in their minute taking abilities by understanding the power of effective preparation.
Business Writing
Business Writing
A one day, half day or 45-60 minute session
At the end of this course delegates will show they can produce professional, positive and persuasive communications and demonstrate effective use of sentences, grammar, punctuation and proofreading skills. They will also show they can adopt a structured approach and be able to compose correspondence confidently and quickly.
Benefit from Change
Benefit from Change
45-60 minute presentation
Modern economic challenges have forced organisations to restructure, downsize or reassess their priorities. This can be stressful and unsettling. However, with the right attitude, knowledge and determination, a proactive PA can grasp these opportunities and turn them into successes.
This session will:
– Reflect on the importance of change and the negative and positive effects
– Consider the best ways to deal with the stress
– Show how by adapting, developing and building relationships, you can come out on top
The World’s your Oyster
The World’s your Oyster
45-60 minute presentation
In this session Heather will outline reasons that we don’t always reach our full potential. She will help us to find ways to achieve our goals and be truly successful.
Reinforce Positive Perceptions
Reinforce Positive Perceptions
45-60 minute presentation
In this session, we will reflect on how our behaviour can reinforce the often existing negative perceptions of the PA. There will be an opportunity to discover ways to create professional, excellent and positive perceptions within your organisation and elsewhere, leading to exciting possibilities for your careers.
Speedwriting
Speedwriting
One day course
Do you have to take notes in meetings, write down telephone messages, remember long lists of tasks from your manager or are you a student attending lectures?
So many of us take notes and yet have no structure to, or system for, our writing.
This workshop will enable you to learn a system that works for you to improve your efficiency, add to your skills and career development and give you a chance to avoid the stress of trying to take notes with only long hand techniques.
Administrators’ workshop
Administrators’ workshop
A one or two day course
At the end of this course delegates will have enhanced their skills enabling them to more successful in their administrative career and to work effectively with their team and manager. They will also have formulated an action plan for their continuing development.
Chair Brilliant Meetings
Chair Brilliant Meetings
Half day session
At the end of this session delegates will be aware of how to run efficient and effective meetings and enable the production of excellent minutes.
Booking Information
Booking Heather Baker for your event is easy. Here is the information you need to know:
Travel
I will usually travel from Stockport (train or car) or Manchester International Airport.
Availability
Call our office number on +44 1932 560974 with any queries or to book.