Just like The Celebrity Traitors, workplaces can harbour people with hidden agendas—those who smile and collaborate while quietly undermining others. And when trust disappears, so does collaboration, creativity, and progress.
workplace culture
Your Gifts Were Never Small: Why Soft Skills Are Now Core Skills
Every assistant is born with unique gifts — intuition, empathy, foresight, diplomacy — yet too often, those strengths are dismissed as “soft.” The truth? In a world of AI and automation, these human skills are more vital than ever. When you use them boldly, you don’t just shine — you help others find their light too.
Same Words, Different Worlds: Finding Connection Beyond Spelling Differences
A lighthearted reminder that even small differences—like how we spell “organisation” or “organization”—can highlight the global nature of our profession. True collaboration isn’t about uniformity; it’s about curiosity, respect, and the ability to bridge differences with humour and grace.
Reputation, Legacy, and the Choices We Make as a Profession
Undermining, exclusion, and division may create short-term noise, but they damage long-term credibility. The assistants who thrive are those who focus on contribution, collaboration, and building upwards. Behaviour defines reputation—and reputation defines legacy.
One Hot-Headed Comment, a Tribunal, and a £30,000 Lesson in Due Process
A UK tribunal just ruled that calling your boss a d**khead isn’t grounds for instant dismissal — awarding nearly £30,000 to the office manager who was fired for it. The case is a sharp reminder for leaders: due process matters more than knee-jerk reactions. For assistants and office managers, it’s also a lesson in managing pressure before it boils over.
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.
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.
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.
EA to EA: Should You Warn Someone About a Toxic Exec?
When one assistant leaves a harmful workplace, and another is about to enter it—what’s the right thing to do? In a profession built on discretion, does a duty of care to each other override silence? This piece explores the unwritten “EA code” and why integrity, not just loyalty, should guide how we support one another behind the scenes.