This course is designed for participants who use emails to communicate with a large variety of
people and need to be sensitive to the recipients they interact with. Participants will practice and
extend their knowledge of different email formats, building an awareness of tone, style, and
accuracy of language. The focus of this course will be on sensitising participants to identifying,
categorising and eventually producing different email formats. Time during the course will be
spent on practical exercises and real-world examples in order to be as relevant as possible to the
participants’ experience. Emphasis will be placed on both interdepartmental communication as
well as interaction with people outside their department.

The course will be practical and hands-on, with the opportunity to put theory into practice, gain
in-class feedback, and participate in peer support.

The course covers these topics:

• Email style: email styles, format and length; familiarity with receiver; using titles and
  greetings/salutations; clarity.
• Email organisation: acknowledgements and reminders; out of office replies; subject lines;
  scheduling and recalling.
• Keeping people in the loop: persons in copy; chain of command; sensitive matters; email
  traffic.
• Dealing with issues: sensitivity and understanding; involving others; time management.

By the end of the course, participants will:

• write different email formats with appropriate tone, style, and language accuracy;
• apply effective email organisation techniques to improve communication efficiency;
• implement proper email etiquette for interdepartmental and external communications;
• address workplace issues via email with sensitivity, appropriate involvement, and time
  management.

This workshop is designed to enhance the skills of administrative staff in the tasks of preparing agendas and taking minutes for Board or Committee meetings. Participants will learn how to effectively draft a comprehensive agenda, including understanding the proper format, selecting relevant items, and managing the distribution process.

Additionally, this session will cover essential minute-taking techniques, emphasising accurate record-keeping during meetings. This includes the ability to succinctly summarise key points, document decisions made, and outline post-meeting actions. The workshop will also address the correct formatting and proper filing of minutes to ensure clear and organised records.

By the end of the session, participants will:

• learn how to create and distribute a well-structured agenda for Board or Committee meetings;
• develop skills to accurately take notes during meetings, summarising key points and recording decisions;
• learn how to document and follow up on actions agreed upon during meetings.