South Africa, Aug. 17 -- As we will soon celebrate Secretaries Day on the first Wednesday of September, it is worth taking a moment to consider how much administrative professionals do and appreciate specifically the discernment and communication skills their work requires. A carefully worded email can prevent confusion, and a well-prepared agenda can keep a meeting focused. Accurate minutes ensure that decisions do not disappear once everyone leaves the room (the whole point of having the meeting in the first place!).

The Communication Lab at the Stellenbosch University Language Centre offers two certificate of competence short courses that support different stages of this professional development journey: Effective office communication...