Most organisations plan meticulously for C-suite succession but overlook a critical risk: assistant turnover. A senior EA carries the executive’s operating system — context, relationships, and rhythms that keep leadership running smoothly. When they leave without a plan, years of finely tuned knowledge disappear, productivity stalls, and business continuity suffers. Assistant succession planning isn’t optional; it’s essential.
Category: Partnership
The Executive Assistant: Manager, Leader, and So Much More
Executive Assistants don’t fit into traditional boxes. They manage complex workflows and priorities while leading through influence, foresight, and relational intelligence. Their unique role bridges management and leadership — without relying on authority, but through credibility and presence.
Celebrating What Works: Sharing the Wins in the Administrative Profession
While it’s vital to call out the challenges assistants face, it’s equally important to spotlight the organisations and leaders getting it right. Let’s celebrate those who value, empower, and invest in their administrative teams—and inspire change through positivity.
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.
Why Leaders Need to Make Time for Their Assistants — Even When They Think They Don’t
Busy leaders often skip regular check-ins with their assistants, thinking they don’t have time. But this creates a costly cycle of overwhelm and inefficiency. By investing just 10 minutes a day to align with your assistant, you unlock clarity, focus, and momentum—turning your assistant from overhead into your most valuable strategic partner.
EA vs. Chief of Staff: Stop Framing One as a Stepping Stone to the Other
Executive Assistants and Chiefs of Staff may work closely with leaders, but they solve entirely different problems. It’s time to stop treating one as a rung below the other — and start building true career progression within the assistant profession.
A Tribute to the Assistant Behind the Success: Tracey Chapman’s Legacy
Piers Morgan’s heartfelt tribute to his assistant of 20 years, Tracey Chapman, is a rare and powerful acknowledgment of the unseen brilliance behind a high-performing life. It’s time we recognised the assistants who don’t just support success — they sustain it.
Why Trust Is the Most Powerful Productivity Tool for Executive Assistants
Trust doesn’t just enhance the EA/Executive relationship — it transforms it. When assistants are trusted, they step into their full potential as strategic partners, problem solvers, and force multipliers. Here’s why trust is the most important investment you can make in an assistant’s performance — and how to build it.
Let’s Clear This Up: The Chief of Staff Is Not a “Promoted EA” Role
Confusion between the Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff roles is harming both professions. The Chief of Staff isn’t a next-step title for EAs—it’s a distinct, high-level role requiring a very different skill set. We must protect the integrity of the Level 4 EA and build realistic, rewarding career paths rooted in clarity, not shortcuts.
From Task-Focused to Impact-Driven: A Day in the Life of Two Assistants
Explore the stark contrast between a transactional assistant who completes tasks and a strategic executive assistant who drives business results. Discover how evolving from reactive to proactive support transforms not only daily work but also the perception and impact of the administrative profession.