Microsoft AI and Automation for Admins

Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming administrative workflows, and mastering the latest tools is essential in a rapidly evolving and competitive business climate. 

In this certificate course, the team at Knack Training will illustrate how administrative professionals can leverage various types of automation and AI to simplify everyday processes, including the AI helper known as Microsoft Copilot. This is perhaps the most critical set of skills to take into the next years of your career.

Session 1: Modern Communication with Outlook, Teams, and Copilot
Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 1PM-2:15PM ET

Effective communications, whether through emails, phone calls, chats, or other live interactions, can be difficult to master when considering the speed and volume of the modern workplace. To successfully handle the information coming across your desk each day, leverage automations and AI to simplify and systematize your work. 

In this session, you will learn how to:

• Create email rules and automations to categorize and respond to messages 
• Convert chat messages into action items in seconds 
• Build real-world support systems for live interactions 
• Automate regular reporting and responses 

Bonus Resource: Modern Communication Tools and Skills in Microsoft 365

Pre-session Hot Tip: Microsoft Copilot supercharges your searches in Microsoft 365. Ask a question like, “What are the financial estimates for Q4?” and Copilot can find results in emails, attachments, OneDrive, SharePoint, or any other Microsoft 365 product!

Session 2: Modern File Management with Teams, SharePoint, and Copilot
Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 1PM-2:15PM ET

The flow of files through an office and out to external parties can be complex and tiresome to track. Whether through internal approval processes or the management of external vendors and clients, administrative professionals today would be well-served to add automation tools to their personal skill set. In this session, we’ll discuss some very useful tools for everyday scenarios.

In this session, you will learn how to:

• Find useful files and information with Copilot integration 
• Automate approval processes with no technical know-how 
• Create a flow to handle external vendors and clients 
• Integrate new information from interested parties with just a few clicks 

 
Bonus Resource: File Management Best Practices in Microsoft 365

Pre-session Hot Tip: If you’re editing a large document and want feedback on a small segment, try sending a Loop Paragraph to your coworker in an email or chat message. They can live-edit the chunk of text with multiple people, then you can insert it back into the file.

Session 3: Modern Meetings with Teams and Copilot
Monday, December 9, 2024, 1PM-2:15PM ET

With a huge number of meetings held virtually, we can leverage even more software tools to make online meetings more successful. From scheduling and sharing of information prior to the meeting date, to leading and conducting a successful meeting, to following up on action items and information distribution, automations and integrations can make the entire meeting experience richer, engaging, and less frustrating for administrative professionals. 

In this session, you will learn about:

• Services for scheduling and arranging online meetings 
• Tools for automating pre-meeting information and check-ins 
• How to leverage AI during and after meetings to find insights 
• How to follow up after meetings with automated workflows 
   
  

Bonus Resource: Virtual Meeting Guide for Microsoft 365

Pre-session Hot Tip: If you’re scheduling a meeting specifically connected to a Team, add a Channel to the meeting. The recording, notes, agenda, and other elements will be saved into the Team Files instead of random OneDrive locations.

Session 4: Modern Productivity with Planner, Copilot, and More
Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 1PM-2:15PM ET

Every day at work, we create, edit, and manage files; follow up on critical tasks; and collect useful information spread across our entire organization (or even the world). All these areas can be improved with both automation tools like macros, scripts, flows, and the AI assistance that Microsoft Copilot provides. In this final session, we'll explore how to supercharge our productivity across file creation, task management, and information collection.

In this session, you will learn how to:

• Create files in less time with Microsoft 365 Copilot 
• Leverage new Office Scripts for in-file automations 
• Track tasks more effectively with the New Planner 
• Collect essential data with Microsoft Forms
  

 
Bonus Resource: Modern Project Management Tools in Microsoft 365

Pre-session Hot Tip: Don’t get random feedback and requests through emails and chats – create a simple Form, and the information is automatically collected in a spreadsheet. If you create a Group Form connected to your Team, then the spreadsheet will be available to the whole Team.

About Neil Malek: Neil Malek is a software productivity expert who delivers high-energy sessions that inspire participants to leverage the full power of their applications. Whether it’s creating the best presentation or chart you can, learning to collaborate more dynamically with your team, or diving into a new piece of software, Neil will provide explanations and examples that are directly relevant to your everyday experiences. 

Neil has been a teacher for over 20 years and has run Knack Training for the last 12 years. He has a natural ability to translate generic skills and techniques to solve real-world problems for his clients, customizing every topic, session, and piece of material to match the situations you find yourself in. His strong background in performance makes him entertaining and engaging to watch, and his quick wits allow him to handle challenging questions on the fly.