Alicia Fairclough

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.

From deep focus and habit-building to leadership, influence, and AI readiness, these 10 books are must-reads for Executive Assistants looking to elevate their skills, expand their influence, and position themselves as strategic business partners.

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.