Celebrating What Works: Sharing the Wins in the Administrative Profession

Administrative Profession Culture & Events Partnership July 30, 2025

I’ve been thinking about the tone of my recent posts.

A lot of them have been focused on what’s broken – the ceilings, the burnout, the lack of progression. And rightly so. These are conversations we have to keep having if we want systemic change in this profession.

But here’s the thing. That’s not the whole story.

There are also brilliant companies out there doing it right. Leaders who recognise and invest in their assistants. Career pathways that do exist. And teams where EAs, PAs and Business Support staff are fully seen, fully valued, and fully empowered.

I want to hear and promote those stories too.

✨ What’s working?
✨ What’s made you feel proud, seen, or energised lately?
✨ Who is doing it well?
✨ Shout out a great exec, a brilliant team, or a policy that makes a difference.

Let’s balance the hard truths with some real inspiration – because both are true at the same time.

Drop something positive in the comments.

Today, I’d love to flood LinkedIn with what’s possible in this profession when it’s done well.

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If your assistant always agrees with you, you don’t have a partner.
You have a mirror.

And a mirror can’t warn you when you’re about to walk off a cliff.

Here’s the thing:

• The best assistants sense-check decisions and ask why.
• They push back on processes that waste time.
• They flag risks you don’t want to see.

That isn’t insubordination.
That’s what partnership looks like.

Many executives still confuse silence with loyalty. It isn’t.
Silence is fear. And fear kills performance.

If you’ve hired well, you already have someone who sees what you don’t. When they speak up, they’re not undermining you. They’re protecting you. That’s their job.

I tell every assistant I train: your role is not to be afraid of your executive, but to be afraid for them.

So the next time your assistant challenges you, pause before shutting them down. Ask yourself: What am I missing?

Because here’s the paradox: the voice you silence might be the very one that saves you.
The smartest voice in the room isn’t always the loudest.
Sometimes, it’s the one you’re not ready to hear.

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