AI will take the clerical tasks, but that’s not the death of the administrative profession — it’s the rebirth of it. Assistants have long been operating at a strategic level: translating ideas into action, safeguarding client relationships, and enabling leadership. The fastest-growing skills for assistants are project management, data analysis, financial literacy, and change management — not clerical, but business-critical. The risk isn’t AI, it’s outdated perception. Recognise assistants as strategic partners, and you’ll unlock one of the most cost-effective assets in the business.
Category: Strategic Business Partner
The Smartest Voice in the Room Isn’t Always Yours
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.
From Firefighting to Foresight: Why Scenario Planning Elevates Assistants into True Business Partners
Assistants don’t just manage diaries — they keep businesses steady when disruption strikes. From cancelled trains to failing tech, scenario planning is the underrated skill that turns chaos into continuity. AI can schedule, but it can’t improvise. Strategic assistants map out Plan B (and C) before the crisis even hits — and that’s what makes them indispensable.
Why the Future of the Assistant Profession Depends on Every Generation — Not Just Gen Z
The narrative that the workplace must be tailored only to younger generations misses the mark — especially in the administrative profession. The average age of an assistant is 48, yet many are told they’re “past their prime” just as they hit peak expertise. The truth? The profession thrives when 20-something digital natives sit alongside 50-something veterans. The future of work won’t belong to one generation, but to organisations that harness the strengths of them all.
The Overlooked Risk: Why You Need a Succession Plan for Your Executive’s Assistant
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.
Why “Task-Based” Assistant Roles Are Disappearing — And What’s Replacing Them
AI is transforming the assistant profession faster than many realise, automating repetitive tasks like scheduling, travel booking, and inbox management. The future belongs to those who adapt — aligning with strategic goals, leveraging AI as a partner, and focusing on uniquely human skills like judgment and foresight. The choice isn’t between “strategic” and “task-based” anymore — it’s between staying relevant or being left behind.
When Passion Meets a Pay Ceiling: Why High-Performing Assistants Are Being Held Back
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.
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.
“Words Are Powerful, Mum.”
My son reminded me at dinner that the word spell once meant to speak with intention—to shape the world with words. That’s exactly what assistants do when they speak up. You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room, but never doubt the power of your perspective. Your words carry weight. Use them.
“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.