Top-performing assistants often hit a salary ceiling with no clear path for progression — forced to choose between staying in the role they love or seeking raises elsewhere. This isn’t a failure of talent, but a failure of outdated career models that don’t recognize the evolving impact of the assistant role.
Category: Goal Setting
Done is Better Than Perfect: Why Sharing Your Work Matters More Than Flawlessness
After spending hours perfecting a checklist for managing executive energy, I faced a formatting disaster on LinkedIn. But I learned a vital lesson: value and progress matter more than perfection. If you’re hesitating to share because it’s not perfect, maybe it’s time to hit send anyway.
Rest is Resistance: Why Taking Time Off Isn’t a Luxury, It’s a Necessity
In a culture that glorifies overwork, especially for assistants, choosing to rest can feel rebellious — but it’s essential for long-term success. Backed by research on burnout and productivity, this is your permission to prioritize real downtime. Your future self, refreshed and focused, will thank you.
Knowing When to Get Off the Wrong Train: The Courage to Pivot in Your Career
Sometimes the bravest act isn’t pushing through — it’s recognizing when a role, relationship, or routine no longer serves you and having the courage to change direction. Holding on because of time invested or fear of disappointing others only makes the journey harder. Your value lies in choosing better for yourself and your future.
“Oh, You Want a Pay Rise?” — No, She Wanted to Grow.
When an assistant came prepared to her annual review—with impact stats, a development plan, and aligned training—her manager’s first response was, “Oh… you want a pay rise?” She didn’t. She wanted to evolve. The confusion between pay, promotion, and development is holding back careers—and businesses. Here’s why training isn’t a perk anymore. It’s survival.
The Smartest Ask: How One EA Always Gets Her Training Budget
One of the sharpest EAs I know walks into her exec’s office every year with five training requests—knowing full well she only wants two. Why? Because she understands budget, psychology, and how to shape a conversation. This isn’t manipulation—it’s assistant mastery. Here’s how she sets the scene, manages expectations, and walks out with exactly what she needs. A lesson in asking smart, not small.
Assistants Aren’t Disposable: Why Support, Not Blame, Drives Performance
Too many assistants are being set up to fail—not due to lack of talent, but lack of structure, onboarding, and support. When organisations treat administrative professionals as interchangeable and expendable, they miss out on the strategic impact these roles can offer. Retention is cheaper than replacement, and investing in assistants is an investment in business performance. It’s time to stop blaming individuals and start fixing the system.
Executive Assistants Aren’t Just Supporting Projects—They’re Leading Them
68% of administrative professionals are already driving cross-functional initiatives—but their contributions are often mislabeled as “helping out.” It’s time to call it what it is: project management. With communication skills, operational precision, and strategic oversight, Executive Assistants are quietly delivering business-critical outcomes. If companies want more efficient, agile project delivery, they should start by recognising the project managers already in the building.
Stop Waiting: You Weren’t Hired to Disappear
In the administrative profession, too many talented individuals have been taught to stay small. But true support isn’t about shrinking — it’s about showing up with impact. Your potential isn’t waiting for permission from others. It’s waiting for you. Say the thing. Ask for more. Step into the space fully. You weren’t hired to hide. You were hired to lead.
If It’s Only About What the Business Needs, It’s Not a Development Conversation
If your career check-ins never include your goals, your growth, or your aspirations—then it’s not development, it’s deployment. Assistants deserve more than support plans. They deserve progression plans. Don’t wait to be asked.