I read an interesting article this weekend about what separates CEOs running £10M companies from those scaling to £100M.
The takeaway was simple – it’s about discipline.
• Removing complexity, not adding noise.
• Clarity that scales.
• Speed as a discipline, not recklessness.
• Standards that define culture.
And here’s what I couldn’t stop thinking. Assistants are already doing this work.
Clarity? They’re the ones filtering the noise, connecting the dots, and making sure the message that leaves the C-suite is consistent across the boardroom, investor calls, and team meetings. Without that, clarity doesn’t scale.
Speed? It isn’t just about quick decisions, it’s about rhythm. Assistants create that rhythm – sequencing inputs, preparing decisions, and closing loops so momentum isn’t lost.
Standards? Culture is shaped in the small things done well. The meeting that starts late. The missed deadline that gets ignored. The sloppy deck that slips through. Assistants spot those small cracks and hold the line before they become culture.
And complexity? The best assistants don’t just simplify downwards. They intercept sideways, preventing duplication, closing loops across teams, and ensuring every “new idea” doesn’t become another layer of chaos.
The article said: “Clarity is the reward for discipline.”
I’d add this. Discipline only scales when leaders have an assistant reinforcing it, every single day.
Ignore that, and you’ll keep wondering why your organisation stalls long before it reaches £100M.
