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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A C-suite exec once told me, “I just don’t know what an assistant could do for me.” If that sounds familiar, it’s time for a wake-up call. A world-class Executive Assistant isn’t just support—they’re a strategic asset. From protecting your time to spotting risks, building bridges, and saving you 25% of your week, here are 20 ways a high-level EA transforms leadership. Because if you don’t have an assistant, you are the assistant.
In a powerful step forward, the UK government has voted to ban the use of NDAs to silence victims of workplace harassment and discrimination. For those—especially women in assistant roles—who’ve been bullied, pushed out, and then gagged, this change is deeply personal. It marks the end of enforced silence and the beginning of accountability. No more protecting reputations at the cost of truth.
After 15 years of working outside traditional structures, I’ve seen how office hierarchies can quietly silence people. When someone says, “I couldn’t talk to them—they’re too important,” it’s not just culture, it’s conditioning. Assistants, and others in perceived ‘support’ roles, often absorb this the most. But real leadership isn’t about reverence. It’s about accessibility, trust, and shared purpose. Because fear-based systems don’t build great teams. They build silence.