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Peak Productivity Mastery: Digital Tools for Personal & Administrative Excellence

Microsoft Planner, Excel, and AI for Peak Administrative Productivity

Master Microsoft Planner, Excel, and AI-Assisted Workflows to Boost Efficiency

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Course Objectives

Who should attend?

Course Outline

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Course Introduction

In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, administrative professionals and support staff need cutting-edge digital tools and proven productivity techniques to manage workloads, streamline processes, and execute tasks with precision. This 5-Day Master Class combines hands-on training in Microsoft Planner (for project and priority management) and intermediate Excel (for data organisation) with time-management frameworks and AI-assisted workflows to transform how you work.

 

Delegates will plan real small projects and daily/weekly schedules in Microsoft Planner, apply Excel automation tricks, use Copilot across Planner, Excel, and Outlook to work faster, and adopt best practices for administrative efficiency — ensuring they leave with actionable systems to reduce friction, meet deadlines, and add measurable value to their roles.

Key Tools Covered

  • Microsoft Planner (task/project management), including its built-in Copilot features
  • Excel (intermediate formulas, dashboards, and Copilot-assisted analysis)
  • Outlook/Teams Integration (calendar blocking, Copilot-assisted email triage)
  • Productivity Apps (To Do, OneNote)

Course Objectives

By the end of this Microsoft Planner, Excel, and AI for Peak Administrative Productivity course, participants will:
  • Master Microsoft Planner, including its Copilot features, to organise tasks, projects, and team collaboration
  • Apply intermediate Excel skills (formulas, tables, dashboards) and Copilot-assisted analysis for data-driven efficiency
  • Design optimised daily and weekly schedules using digital tools, AI assistance, and prioritisation frameworks
  • Execute small projects end-to-end with clear milestones and accountability
  • Reduce time wasted on low-value tasks through automation, AI assistance, and workflow hacks

Employer Benefits

  • Reduced operational delays from clear task ownership
  • Standardised processes for onboarding and training
  • Data-driven workload management via Excel and Planner
  • Faster adoption of AI-assisted workflows already available in your organisation's Microsoft 365 licence

Who should attend?

  • Office Administrators
  • Administrative Supervisors
  • Secretaries and Personal Assistants
  • Administrative Support Staff
  • Office Managers
Finance Courses

Training Methodology

Our diverse instructional approaches ensure effective learning:

– Lectures & Presentations: Engage with expert-driven, stimulating content.
– Course Material: Access well-crafted supporting resources.
– Group Work: Collaborate on discussions and case studies for practical insights.
– Workshops & Role-Play: Participate in immersive, scenario-based activities.
– Practical Application: Focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real situations.
– Post-Training Support: Receive extensive support after training for skill implementation.

Training Outline

DAY 1 — Foundations of Digital Productivity
Module 1: The Science of Administrative Efficiency
  • Time audits: identifying productivity leaks
  • Prioritisation frameworks: the Eisenhower Matrix and “Eat the Frog”
Module 2: Deep Dive: Microsoft Planner Setup & Workflow Design
  • Creating boards for daily tasks vs. projects
  • Assigning tasks, deadlines, and progress tracking
  • Using Planner's Copilot features to draft task breakdowns and suggested plans
Practical Assignment: Build your Planner board for the week, using Copilot to help draft your initial task breakdown.
DAY 2 — Excel for Administrative Agility
Module 3: Intermediate Excel for Time Savings
  • Essential formulas: VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, conditional formatting
  • Building dynamic to-do lists and trackers
  • Using Copilot in Excel to suggest formulas and speed up analysis
Module 4: Deep Dive: Automating Repetitive Tasks
  • Macros basics and Quick Analysis tools
  • Creating a personal “productivity dashboard”
  • Using Copilot to generate a first-pass dashboard layout from your data
Practical Assignment: Design a workload tracker in Excel, using Copilot to accelerate formula-building.
DAY 3 — Project Management for Small-Scale Initiatives
Module 5: Planning a Project in Microsoft Planner
  • Breaking down tasks into subtasks and dependencies
  • Using labels and buckets for prioritisation
Module 6: Deep Dive: Delegation & Collaboration in Planner
  • Sharing boards with stakeholders
  • Updating progress and troubleshooting bottlenecks
Practical Assignment: Plan a mock event or initiative in Planner.
DAY 4 — Time-Blocking & Sustainable Workflows
Module 7: Structuring Your Day for Maximum Focus
  • Time-blocking techniques in Outlook/Planner
  • Batch processing low-cognitive tasks
Module 8: Masterclass: Managing Interruptions & Email Overload
  • Inbox-zero strategies
  • Using Copilot in Outlook to triage, summarise, and draft responses to routine emails
  • Setting boundaries with polite professionalism
Practical Assignment: Create a time-blocked schedule in Planner, incorporating AI-assisted email triage time.
DAY 5 — Integration & Real-World Application
Module 9: Workshop: Optimising Your Tool Stack
  • Syncing Planner with Outlook/Teams
  • Mobile productivity hacks
  • Coordinating Copilot across Planner, Excel, and Outlook as one connected system, not separate tools
Module 10: Deep Dive: Measuring Your Productivity Gains
  • Tracking metrics: tasks completed, time saved
  • Using AI-assisted reporting to summarise your efficiency gains
  • Presenting your efficiency plan to leadership
Practical Assignment: Final deliverable: a polished Planner/Excel system, with an AI-assisted summary of your efficiency plan, for immediate use.

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Success Stories

Discover how our courses enhance professionals’ effectiveness in their workplaces.

INSETA

The Evolving Role of Executive Assistants and AI Conference

Thank you for offering us the opportunity to attend this course. The Facilitator was very informed, and have learned a lot of AI tools which I will use at my workplace.

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FAQs – Microsoft Planner, Excel, and AI for Peak Administrative Productivity

Boost administrative productivity with practical skills in Microsoft Planner, Excel, and AI for efficient task management, automation, organisation, and workplace performance.

What topics are covered in the Microsoft Planner, Excel and AI for Peak Administrative Productivity course?
The course covers Microsoft Planner for task and project coordination, practical Excel skills for managing and analysing information, and AI tools that help administrative professionals automate routine work, improve productivity, and work more efficiently.
Who should attend the Microsoft Planner, Excel and AI for Peak Administrative Productivity course?
This course is designed for office administrators, executive assistants, personal assistants, secretaries, administrative coordinators, team assistants, and professionals who want to improve productivity using Microsoft 365 and AI-powered tools.
Do I need advanced Excel or AI experience to attend this course?
No. The course focuses on practical workplace applications and is designed to help administrative professionals build confidence in using Microsoft Planner, Excel, and AI tools to improve everyday productivity and efficiency.
How can Microsoft Planner improve administrative productivity?
Microsoft Planner can help administrative professionals organise tasks, assign responsibilities, track progress, manage deadlines, coordinate team activities, and improve visibility across multiple projects and priorities.
How is AI used in administrative work?
AI can support administrative professionals with tasks such as drafting content, summarising information, organising ideas, analysing data, improving written communication, and reducing the time spent on repetitive administrative activities.
Can Prospen Africa deliver this Microsoft Planner, Excel and AI course as customised in-house training?
Yes. Prospen Africa can customise the training around your organisation's Microsoft 365 environment, administrative workflows, reporting requirements, productivity challenges, and the specific responsibilities of your administrative and support teams.

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