Yesterday I had a meeting with a senior EA. So senior that she sits on the board of her company – a company which employs 10,000 people globally. Just 35 assistants support the management and their teams. She heads up that function.
She wanted to talk to me about putting some structure into their administrative function and training them to operate at the highest level.
She told me that she loses sleep over the executives at her business who she believes are not achieving their potential because they don’t have the right support.
Today, I want to highlight how the role of the assistant can crucially impact an executive’s potential.
Executive Assistants play a vital part in supporting executives, and their absence can leave a noticeable void. Here’s why an executive may not meet their full potential without one:
1️⃣ Time Management: Executives juggle multiple tasks and need help managing their time effectively. An assistant manages all aspects of the administrative side of the partnership, for example calendar management, email triage, expenses, travel, briefing documents, board reports, presentation design and meeting planning, freeing up time for the executive to do the things they specialise in; revenue generation, product development, strategic initiatives and critical decisions.
2️⃣ Process and Procedure: Assistants implement the processes and procedures behind the ideas, offering the structure needed to turn the ideas into reality.
3️⃣ Information Management: Assistants filter and organize information, ensuring executives receive timely updates, and briefing documents to help them make informed choices, fast.
4️⃣ Relationship Building: Assistants actively manage relationships, enhance communication, facilitate introductions and ensuring timely follow-ups, allowing executives to establish a strong network.
5️⃣ Execution Excellence: Assistants possess exceptional organizational skills, overseeing project management and translating vision into results.
6️⃣ Emotional Support: Assistants provide a trusted confidant, offering emotional support, empathy, and acting as a sounding board for ideas.
7️⃣ Continuity and Sustainability: Assistants establish continuity, document processes, and ensure smooth transitions during leadership changes.
8️⃣ Freedom to be present: Assistants attending leadership meetings can take note of what actions the executive has agreed to, what actions others around the table have agreed to, can anticipate bottlenecks on the executive’s behalf and keep projects on track – allowing the executive to be fully present in the conversation.
The partnership between an executive and their assistant propels success. Without an assistant’s invaluable support, executives may be overwhelmed, unable to fully focus on their strengths. Let’s recognize the significance of this collaboration and empower executives to thrive.
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