Cathy Harris

Whether it was because of Covid, or from old habits formed over many years, working in isolation away from your work colleagues and peer groups can be the reason for limited creativity, the lack of spontaneous collaboration and the feeling of being “left out.”

Although working on your own certainly has its advantages it can limit your personal growth and unwittingly affect your self-confidence and self-esteem. Having a group of like-minded individuals to turn to and connect with, has exponential advantages and great benefits for you as an Assistant in the ever-evolving work environments.

Learning Outcomes

• This session will provide guidance to those who have unwittingly become disconnected from their peers and peer groups to realise the value of being both a recipient and a contributor of an internal network, or any network for that matter. We learn from and feed off the experiences and wisdom from those around us who face the exact same challenges as we do.
• As the new world requires that we remain constantly informed and equipped to deliver on ever-changing workplace structures and economic shuffles, being educated on an ongoing basis on the skills we need to navigate this way of work, is essential. Being connected positively to your network will give you the tools and the opportunity to be on top of your game.
• Having information at your fingertips, saves you time and gives you “brownie points” when having to answer to requests from your executive, as a network provides the complete “who’s who” in your organisation.

This session is available on demand in our Learning Library

With the evolution of our role as administrative assistants, this session provides the opportunity to realign and level up your current skills. The question to ask is “Are you future-ready?” Cathy will share the importance and relevance on the “why” and will provoke the learner into questioning their current skill level and future preparedness. This will allow the learner to consider the opportunities on how to forge a new career pathway within the administrative profession.

Learning Outcomes

• Be accountable for your own development
• Level up effectively with purpose and intent
• Future-proof your career

• Grow your career, expand your Responsibilities
• Living Job Descriptions, CV’s and Skills Matrix
• Building a portfolio of evidence
• Confidentiality in the workplace
• Unleashing your professional brand
• Self -Management
• Preparing for your Performance Appraisal
• Strategic partnerships

• Communication
• Time Management
• Diary and email management
• Meetings, and minute taking
• Unravelling travel
• Collaboration, team work and leadership skills
• Document management
• Practical budgeting, accounts and reconciliations
• Managing your manager
• Managing multiple managers

• The Proactive PA
• Working in a team
• Personal Leadership skills
• Multitasking
• Managing your EQ
• Dealing with difficult colleagues
• Office etiquette and business protocols
• Professionalism in the workplace
• Creating a PA forum within your organisation
• DevArt: Creative teambuilding experience incorporating workshop initiatives.

You will not find a more amazing teacher out there.  Cathy is passionate about her profession and passionate in delivering a learning experience that you can touch and feel at the same time.  She is unforgettable, and I look forward to attending workshops where she is presenting.

More down to earth you cannot find!  I loved learning from Cathy’s vast knowledge of over 38 years in her profession.  She is certainly an expert in her field, very knowledgeable and comes highly rated from various sources.  We enjoyed her session on Life Balance so much, we called her back to present to our management team as well.  They could only say good things about this lady.

To me Cathy Harris is a unique professional.  She is recognized as a top notch PA trainer, has a record of achieving 10/10 on our delegate feedback forms, and provides a wide variety of expert knowledge and learning opportunities for our delegates across Africa.  She is also a full time Executive PA, has written 2 books with 2 more on the way (I believe), and is one of the nicest, most down to earth, humble human beings I know.  Our PA delegates love her and come back to our sessions when she facilitates.

Cathy has facilitated many workshops here at Discovery for our PA’s over the years.  She is just fantastic in her delivery and knowledge of our profession.  She also provides coaching and mentoring to our assistants as and when they need it, and makes herself available  to help out any PA that finds themselves in need of direction or assistance.  Love her work ethic, her integrity, her humility and her professionalism.