Dear Microsoft,
Your tools have long been an integral part of workplaces worldwide, helping teams stay connected, organised, and productive.
Like most executives, I rely heavily on the support of my Executive Assistant, who plays a crucial role in managing communications, keeping track of important conversations, and ensuring that follow-ups don’t slip through the cracks.
For years, EAs have been able to do this effectively with access to email, particularly the sent folder, which provides the context they need to support leaders in a strategic and seamless way.
However, as many organisations adopt Microsoft Teams as their primary communication platform, EAs are suddenly working blind.
Unlike email, Teams currently lacks a straightforward way for EAs to track conversations, see past messages, or manage tasks arising from ongoing discussions. This has created a significant gap in their ability to support their executives effectively.
Administrative professionals need visibility into conversations to anticipate needs, proactively manage responsibilities, and respond to issues as they arise.
Without access to Teams conversations, EAs are limited in the very areas where their support is most valuable.
Microsoft, this is more than a functionality issue; it’s a productivity and partnership challenge.
EAs serve as strategic allies for their executives, and limiting their access to information within Teams hinders this partnership.
Your platform has the potential to be a powerful tool for collaboration, but without addressing the visibility needs of administrative professionals, Teams is falling short of its full promise.
We urge you to take action on this issue. By adding features that allow EAs to access their executives’ Teams conversations—much like they currently do with email—you can support a critical segment of your user base and enhance productivity for leaders and their assistants alike.
We need to fix this visibility gap for the administrative professionals who are essential to organisational success and for the executives who depend on them.
Sincerely, Lucy Brazier OBE
PS: Administrative Professionals, I am increasingly hearing about the issues that Teams is causing you. It would be wonderful to hear your experience, first hand, in the comments below, so that I can pass them on.
