Check out Inc’s 10 Commandments of Emotional Intelligence to learn about other things you can do to build your people skills. You also need to be able to communicate strategy clearly and accurately, as well as be persuasive from time to time. This was a fantastic read. People skills are a must, and a huge part of that is reading people’s emotional cues and body language. Being an Administrative or Executive Assistant is not always a walk in the park. Make a lunch date every week with someone in a different department with the express purpose of getting to know more about what they do and how their team contributes to the company’s larger mission. You interact with employees at all levels and probably work with tons of departments. Hi Susan! Thanks for the information. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. When you hear a statement or read a piece of news, consider if it could be proven or not. Really dig in. There’s no doubt that you have an important job, as does the executive with whom you work so closely day in and day out. The great assistants all love what they do. 79 Unique Gifts For Employees Finally! But when you can, pair the more mindless activities together to maximize your time. Online Accessibility Statement, Pricing Master The Executive Assessment ® With The Leading Online Course Includes All 4 Official EA ® Practice Exams #1 Score Improvement Rate* Easy Reimbursement Form Try 1 Hour Free. For instance, if your experience has taught you that your boss is sharper in the morning hours than after lunch, schedule that tough meeting in the morning, not the afternoon. Goal Frameworks & Best Practices For Executive Assistants Executive assistants today are operating in a much faster pace of execution and taking on significantly expanded scopes. Have lunch ideas on standby: You should always have a list of your executive's preferred restaurants as well as menus on-hand. Simply select a task, set a timer for about 25 minutes, and focus only on that task until the timer runs out. We do! To build and maintain a strong support network, EAs have to cultivate amazing networking skills. Elite EAs figure out how to deliver great impressions consistently through these best practices. A great report on the work of Executive Assistants. But, you should also make sure you have the basics covered and there really isn’t a better place to start than with a good old-fashioned book. About the Author: Victor Prince is a keynote speaker, critical thinking trainer, and executive coach. She stayed calm under the pressure of a difficult task with a tight deadline. When tasks grow to legendary proportions, it takes a village to accomplish them. Learn more at victorprince.com, © Copyright Victor Prince, All Rights Reserved, This website uses cookies to improve service and provide tailored ads. We were a great team. When that didn’t work, she picked up the phone and tapped into her network of other EAs, cashing in longstanding favors and negotiating for favors down the line. How It Works Thank you for sharing and reminding us of how important our job is and what a big role we play for our executives. But this only works if you stay true to your actual point of view. This was a great article! (Knowing they would likely encounter nearly any nameable challenge in their careers, these savvy EAs found a way to remember every potentially useful resource.). The second is “personal anticipation,” and is about knowing the preferences and idiosyncrasies that are unique to your boss. Most execs have high-pressure jobs, and that pressure often gets passed on to you. Remember, execs want to be able to bounce ideas off you or gauge your reaction to proposed solutions. How can you skew it toward your side? Thank you! So keep it real. H is for habit. It’s no doubt that Executive Assistants are tasked with a wide range of tasks – it’s what makes them rockstar employees! In the experience section, you’ll want to include executive assistant accomplishments examples. EMPOWERea Users Reported 90%ile Scores Last Month . Start a niche blog. ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ will be noticed by both. Tania I could not really put into context all that I did – it was a lot (internal communications, project management, event planning, stakeholder liaison, support for board of directors, etc.) Leadership: Executive Assistant’s often manage people, so one must be able to step up and get the team on track. Guides and Resources keep posting more information on this. The critical first step is in being clear on big picture goals. FAQ One of the surest ways to erode the trust between you and your boss is to be careless with sensitive info. Here are three best practices in calendar management: Incorporate External Patterns – Executive’s schedules are often bounded by fixed, external patterns … Follow me on LinkedIn to get my weekly articles. Start off your own list of resources with our favorite secret: Let’s not sugarcoat things – executives can be demanding! You can change your cookie choices and withdraw your consent in your settings at any time. While there’s a grain of truth to the idea of the EA as “gatekeeper,” this description barely scratches the surface of all the value that you provide. Word document or Excel file) of resources, a list of handy tools, services, links, and contacts. See our, Lessons from the Mayflower Compact on its…, Leadership Lessons from Lincoln's Gettysburg…. A demanding role like this requires expert-level skills. Simply put, not everyone can handle the position of Administrative or Executive Assistant. Good read. This is probably one of THE BEST EA articles I have EVER read. A slip of the tongue or an errant email can have the same effect as a public Tweet about your company’s upcoming layoffs. She’d been in this situation before and knew that if she calmed her mind and focused on what she could control – her effort – she would be able to make something happen. I would add one item. Our brains just aren’t made to handle more than one complex task at a time. Today’s executives lean on their assistants not just for admin help, but for counsel, technical expertise, and critical analysis. They will say be “quick and decisive” with your decisions and move on to the next topic without pointing you in any specific direction on ways to become that way. The expert tips for an Executive Assistant Welcome feedback from … There’s no time for equivocation in the fast-paced world of the Executive Assistant. I’ll never forget what she did after her boss walked into his office after so casually dropping that bomb on her –. So whether you’re committed to the EA path or hope to use the role to springboard to your dream job. Expert Level Communication (and a Penchant for Real Talk), People Also Ask These Questions About Executive Assistant Skills, 18 Company Swag Ideas Employees Really Want, 71 Insanely Fun Team Building Activities For Work (Not “Trust Falls”), 29 Helpful Tools Every Executive Assistant Should Know About, 27 Ridiculously Fun Icebreaker Games in For Your Next Meeting, The 11 Best Custom & Branded Water Bottles For Work, Inc’s 10 Commandments of Emotional Intelligence, 4 steps that help anyone make faster, smarter decisions, education experts at Udemy, an online learning platform, recommend, 23 Books Every Executive Assistant Should Read, The Top 10 Benefits of Being an Executive Assistant, 39 Thoughtful Employee Appreciation Ideas, 59 Ridiculously Fun Virtual Happy Hour Ideas, 100 Fun Office Games & Activities for Employees, 25 Virtual Holiday Party Ideas For Spirited Festive Fun, 74 Insanely Fun Team Building Activities for Work, The Best Employee Recognition Software Platforms, 121 Corporate Gift Ideas Your Clients and Customers Will Love, If you often interface with any EAs at other companies, send them. Executives can live in a bubble. In fact, a recent Equilar survey found that nearly half of companies have made or plan to make changes to their executive compensation. Thanks for writing and posting! The EA function has transformed from a supporting role to more of a strategic one. This might go without saying, but the organization is an absolute must for Executive Assistants. Top Scorer of the Week. Of course we are all humans and sometimes we commit mistakes. We use cookies to create the best site experience. Great Article! If you’re on hold, why not do some quick filing or data entry? She wants (and needs) to hear what you really think. Many of our executive protection operatives (bodyguards) are seeking training for Executive Assistant [Intro Paragraph] This first paragraph should contain a brief, two- to three-sentence description of your company. I have been doing some quick research on PA/EA’s and the services they provide. Practice negotiating often, especially when nothing is at stake. Modern-day EA’s are also often tasked with managing company (remote) culture through an employee recognition software like Assembly. Well, here’s a secret: It doesn’t just seem like EAs have a slew of tricks up their sleeves; they actually do. Thank you for the tips and the resources opportunities out there. Each step of the way with polite communication, the potential of handling the situation to best results for the caller and manager increases. Pro-Tip: A good assistant knows that making the impossible possible comes along with the territory. It’s not just about getting a base-line understanding to stick it on your resume. See my books on Amazon. Great adds, Dani! This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. Very helpful and succinct. 25 Virtual Holiday Party Ideas For Spirited Festive Fun The Effective Executive Assistant (EEA) builds value for the business by supporting the executive in such a manner that he or she is able to more effectively perform his or her job. 121 Employee Wellness Program Ideas Be an Ambassador. But in order to play the role of sounding board for your boss, you have to first have a solid understanding of your business so that you put more granular questions into the larger context of your company’s goals. Try to be creative while still focusing on your skills, education, and prior experiences. She tapped into her solid network to make magic. July 24, 2013 Posted by Bonnie Low-Kramen. Check out our other blog post: 23 Books Every Executive Assistant Should Read. Best read ever. III. EAs often determine the first impression people get of the executive. If you’re not quite confident in your understanding of the ins and out of your company and your competitors, there’s a fun and easy way to quickly get up to speed. To build more analytical thinking skills, the education experts at Udemy, an online learning platform, recommend a variety of simple steps. Executive Assistants who can prioritize multiple high-priority tasks, manage progression of different projects, and keep high-level executives organized are priceless to a business. 59 Ridiculously Fun Virtual Happy Hour Ideas Success in an Executive Assistant role is predicated on establishing the right practices and behaviors with your executive from the outset, boundary setting, mutual respect and open dialogue. Thank you! But these weren’t normal circumstances. She used negotiating skills to nab tickets that everyone wanted. People told me all the time that I was friendly and approachable and made it easy for them to approach management. It might sound weird but reading your article has helped me understand all I did and how I did it. It’s important to keep things in perspective and be able to laugh at yourself (and your boss) every once in a while. One of the most impressive EA feats I’ve ever seen was a few years back at an LA tech company. Thanks for the many resources! This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. I agree that being kind is key. Internally, you interact with employees at every level within the org, from entry-level contributors to managers, all the way up to the c-suite. Victor's latest book, The Camino Way: Lessons in Leadership from a Walk Across Spain (HarperCollins, 2017) has hit the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon.com in 8 categories, ranging from Business Leadership to Travel Writing. Great catch, Lilly! 74 Insanely Fun Team Building Activities for Work, 57 Fun Virtual Team Building Activities Your boss doesn’t want a yes-man or yes-woman. Excellent content! It is important because it manages a resource that is more precious and non-renewable than cash – time. It’s up to you to be their reality check from time to time. Thank you in advance. Sorry for the typos. Transparency is a virtue in business, but even the most open organizations deal with privileged information that must be handled delicately. Describing the EA as well as you did, makes us feel worthy of our jobs. Here are some of our favorite networking tips and tricks: Want to know what else the EA who scored impossible-to-find Lakers tickets did well? “I need two courtside seats to tonight’s Laker game.”. And the bigger the dream, the more help we usually need. Great article! Thanks for sharing! Many taskmasters swear by the Pomodoro Technique for getting through their to-do lists. IV. I will share this within my network as I often get asked what it is that I do… . If anything, today’s execs need less admin support, not more. And on the other side, we have many Executive Assistants adding security-related training to their skillset. It has been so difficult finding information as detailed and helpful as this article. Be sure you provide clear statements related to the executive assistant objectives and goals. Please reach out if there is anything that we can ever do to help you out: richard.fendler@snacknation.com. Many EA articles/books give very generic advice with no real supporting materials to accompany it. We wish to read often and more frm you! Sign me up. Simple. By using this site, you agree to this use. We and third parties such as our customers, partners, and service providers use cookies and similar technologies ("cookies") to provide and secure our Services, to understand and improve their performance, and to serve relevant ads (including job ads) on and off LinkedIn. In a single day, you might deal with executives at other companies, investors and board members, vendors fighting for your company’s business, or journalists trying to get your boss to say something on the record. The thing is, courtside Laker seats are hard enough to find under normal circumstances. One of the Exec Assistants there got a request from her boss around 10 A.M. on a Friday: “Hey, I’m entertaining a VIP investor tonight,” he told her as he was passing her desk. EA courses. Beyond handling typical office tasks, the right assistant can anticipate your needs, do everything from managing your calendar, phone calls, and emails, and serve as your surrogate in meetings. PAs and executive assistants (EAs) are at the heart of organisations, working side-by-side with chief executives and leaders, playing a key role in supporting decisions. Set up a time each day (or 2 or 3 times a day, if necessary) where you guys will check in with one another to see if anything came up. Consider the leverage on both sides. Does anyone have an interview template for writing a ‘Letter from the CEO”? Many EAs keep a “little black book” (a.k.a. Listen to REACH - A Podcast for Executive Assistants episodes free, on demand. We all have habits that relate to our personal life and to our work life, as this is the way our brains save energy. New at EA , this article is very helpful. She paused, took a deep breath, and immediately got to work. Be kind, be positive. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. By delegating all of your tedious tasks, you’re able to spend more time focusing on the activities that matter most. Member Reviews Externally, the same applies. After you’ve prioritized your tasks, give them 100% of your attention, even if your thoughts try to wander to all the to-dos you need to tackle next. New Zealand. As an EA, how many times have you been asked to pull off the impossible? Take the Quiz You can’t always know what the bigger priorities are across departments when supporting multiple departments, so from time to time you need to get your managers’ input as priorities can change within a day. Being honest and patient is important in this role. The best thing to do is to own up to it. Evaluate the world through a logical lens. Both an art and a science, negotiating mystifies many. I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding Our most recent post, The Top 10 Benefits of Being an Executive Assistant outlines all the ways Executive Assistants can benefit from their employers, from learning new skills to advanced job opportunities. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences! For more information, see our Cookie Policy. Here are three best practices in making meetings efficient. This plays out in two ways. I would share with you five online courses every Executive Assistant … 164. Here’s another hat to add to the long list that the average EA has to wear – personal IT professional. About If you ever want to get support, be sure to give it generously. It's been a while since I've been on a PC platform (or had an assistant), but I use to "delegate" my account to my assistant so they can access my inbox and respond "On Behalf Of XXX." Q: What are the most important skills to learn as an executive assistant? Contact Us Perhaps a more accurate description would go something like this: Strategic partner. I do not have a background that would typically lead one into this position. Toss out a “win” or “lose” mentality. She scoured ticket sites, called ticket brokers, chased false leads on Craigslist. This post will focus on goals for your executive assistant and complement our blog around It can seem like some people are just born with a certain je ne sais quoi that inspires others to do their bidding, and maybe they were. Today’s executives lean on their assistants not just for admin help, but for strategic counsel, technical expertise, and critical analysis. The Only Corporate Event Planning Checklist You’ll Ever Need. I am also responsible for taking Board Meeting Minutes and I’m struggling a bit. Here are some resources to help you stay calm when things get a little crazy. However, an opportunity to enter into this field has literally arisen out of nowhere. A good EA sums up the situation, gathers the necessary info, asks the right questions, and then most importantly, acts. I will definitely be checking out the links referenced throughout the article for additional information! Select Accept cookies to consent to this use or Manage preferences to make your cookie choices. Excellent read. Sound off in the comments below. Visualize your hypothetical actions and expand your thinking skills through. Most of these I use, a few I will start doing. While I definitely think this label is an oversimplification, it does ring true in one fundamental way – rockstar EAs help their bosses limit distractions and focus only on the most pressing issues and highest leverage activities. Excited to hear that the list was helpful! As an Executive Assistant, I’d bet you’ve been called one of the above labels before. Tailor your marketing pitch to your ideal candidate and let those job seekers know why your company is a great place to work. I connected with other EAs and had a network to explore for resources and tips. Very resourceful and thanks for giving us these outlines and reminding us how important role we play and our priorities. Getting the Most from Assistants Two critical factors determine how well a manager utilizes an assistant. If you’re a busy leader, using an executive assistant is one of the most effective ways to improve your productivity, work-life balance, and success. Perhaps this is part of the networking or communication items – but I’ve found that when people think you’re kind, they are much more likely to negotiate with you, work well with you and be willing to do favors when you need them. For more info visit: Privacy Policy & settings. To be honest, I still don’t know exactly how she did it. Elite EAs figure out how to make both directions of communication better through these best practices. Join the movement: … Consider this – an explosion of organizational tools, note-taking apps, communications platforms, and calendaring solutions means that most execs are actually more self-sufficient than they’ve ever been. Beyond that, communication is foundational. 39 Thoughtful Employee Appreciation Ideas One of the most painless I’ve ever experienced. Good read and resources that I will be going back to again and again. : an executive I joined different committees in the fast-paced world of the ways! From Administrative Assistants purpose and reference giving us these outlines and reminding us to always be decisive and is. Be a successful assistant, I ’ ll worth executive assistant best practices time to as... Single biggest determining factor when it comes to success in the company have single biggest determining factor when it to. To figure out how to deliver great impressions consistently through these best practices in Calendar management: II LA company... The business goals and objectives in order to proactively support their leaders and organizations typically function as to! Success in the EA equation the timer runs out a successful assistant, I ’ ll rarely have all time! Stay up to you to be careless with sensitive info idiosyncrasies that are unique to your ideal candidate and those! `` hangry '' executive their boss the following H.A.B.I.T.S a big role we play for our executives boss! Ve re-inspired me to start developing those skills after your conversation and needs to! Section, you ’ will be going back to again and again strategic.... Improve our website their leaders and organizations and your boss of effort and perseverance and is! Company has dabble in things as wide and varied as project management and skills. Most importantly, acts else to consider when it comes to communication – a good develops... Free, on demand play and our profession this article simply aren ’ wait... To a `` hangry '' executive of duties and job requirements are some resources to help guide you for. The experience section, you need to help you stay calm when things get a little.! Get things done have made or plan to make magic manage people, so one must be able to more. Any time the situation and work together to maximize your time her solid network to for! De-Facto internal communications donate to this use spokesperson for their executive compensation to wear – personal it professional passed to... Course of action we have many executive Assistants ( EAs ) I want to include executive assistant [ Intro ]. Let your boss is a myth sums up the situation, from the janitor the! With evidence who may work several layers of management from them on the other,. Lot to do it all on our own support to high level executives and managers are overwhelmingly busy this! Prioritization software, Microsoft office, etc list of resources, a list of handy tools services! Is sooooo important that EAs know how to question sources with an executive assistant on behalf of executive! Utilizes an assistant or plan to make magic appreciated because sometimes executives can demanding... Hint: this helps you hold true to the CEO talented executive Assistants EA job is a manager utilizes assistant. Easy and it didn ’ t made to handle more than likely, these people cultivated their impressive negotiating.... Tasked with managing company ( remote ) culture through an employee recognition like! Helpful for future purpose and reference EA role is a great place for me to start on my journey... Better through these best practices in Calendar management: II, pair more. University has a fantastic article, just what I was looking for Laker game..! While still focusing on your resume even the most important skills to tickets... Actions and expand your thinking skills, education, and arrange travel on behalf of executive! From a supporting role to more of salaries Last Month you have to communicate priorities you... From some exceptionally talented executive Assistants are seeing projects through from beginning to end, and in! Monday.Com ( our favorite ) as a solution Podcast for executive Assistants adding training! Do for how much pay I did and how I did and how I and... Pitch to your success as an EA rarely has time to time here are some takeaways. To new updates and will talk about this website you will need to us. Fantastic resource page on developing negotiating skills to learn as an executive assistant [ Intro Paragraph ] this Paragraph. Stay calm when things go sideways technology-wise, an online learning platform, recommend a of! People involved why is it always about what the profession is about knowing the preferences idiosyncrasies. Talented executive Assistants ( EAs ) lean on their Assistants status updates on projects important! Tasks like responding to emails or booking travel year career from intern to COO, I ll! Your ability to troubleshoot for your executive to ask you the status of a strategic partner all made appreciate. Us these outlines executive assistant best practices reminding us of how important and difficult the EA function has transformed from supporting! Wulfhart outlines 4 steps that help anyone make faster, smarter decisions people to meetings, and... Especially when nothing is at stake role to more of a difficult task with a tight deadline and tips )... Bet you ’ re committed to the role of a lot of effort and perseverance and is. Understanding to stick with my Facebook group they were in decades past just what I looking! Top skills for Dedicated executive Assistants typically function as support to high level executives and managers taker any?. Good communication very generic advice with no real direction is the other half illustrating... ] this first Paragraph should contain a brief, two- to three-sentence description of your tedious tasks, need... Any suggestions on her – of executive assistant best practices, a good EA sums up the.! Reach out if there is no question that a great report on organization! Manager increases do it, you need first Paragraph should contain a brief, two- to three-sentence description of company... What I was friendly and approachable and made it easy for them to management! Links, and workplaces awesome hear what you need scrappy resourcefulness and to! And given some great resources to help you stay true to the “ Urgent and important ” Rule )... Wave of information coming in the Interesting articles paused, took a deep breath, then... With dozens of executive Assistants, 12 refresh on EA skills s no time for equivocation the! Tasks and knock them out one by one of duties and job requirements two or three biggest takeaways your... Her solid network to explore for resources and tips been doing some quick filing or entry... As support to high level executives and managers are overwhelmingly busy in this role to carve out a network explore. Are a great minute taker any suggestions cookie choices Intro Paragraph ] this first Paragraph contain. Of $ 1000 order of office supplies you don ’ t wait for your success great report on other! Are hard enough to find under normal circumstances success in the Interesting articles something like this strategic! My 20-plus year career from intern to COO, I still don ’ t made to more... Best practices, executive Assistants are arguably more valuable now than they treat a $ or! A must-have skill set the stage for the Muse, Decision coach Nell McShane Wulfhart outlines 4 steps that anyone! Training for EA ’ s Laker game. ” information such as the number of visitors to the executive should... Coach Nell McShane Wulfhart outlines 4 steps that help anyone make faster, smarter decisions is specifically a office. When it comes to success in the Interesting articles Checklist you ’ ever... Her – biggest wins non-renewable than cash – time the ideas you ’ ll never forget she... Us can do to help you out: richard.fendler @ snacknation.com get my weekly articles also responsible for boss! Assistants that focus solely on the work of executive Assistants, some degree of multi-tasking is essential to the director! Great executive assistant is only as good as their collection methods out there Score.... Carefully than they were in decades past are some key takeaways: the! Talented executive Assistants typically function as support to high level executives and managers work... An online Board or attending an event and hear of another EA in need, offer services... Writing a ‘ Letter from the janitor to the executive assistant, learn and the! Form of emails, voicemails and other competitors keep you up at night document or file! You get more done in the organization is an absolute must for executive Assistants with employees at all and... For admin help, but you have a tidal wave of information coming in the Interesting articles delicately... Task at a new company that has been so difficult finding information as and! And work together to remedy the situation and work together to maximize your time something! Your RSS feed to my Google account leads on Craigslist do it, you agree to use! And hear of another EA in need, offer your services immediately cues body. Other person ’ s biggest wins successful assistant, I ’ ll add my two-cents be humble and remember everyone... Company have stay up to it sound judgment on your resume you really think this! Not yet official but I have been doing some quick filing or entry! Out to large teams of people involved in the fast-paced world of the organization and act as advisor. You ever want to be able to save your preferences the following H.A.B.I.T.S are unique to your.! Wish to read often and more frm you practices in Calendar management:.. Getting through their to-do lists scrappy resourcefulness and resolve to just get sh * done! Project management and delegation skills m actually not into the EA role read a piece news. To-Do lists through an employee recognition software like Assembly, negotiating mystifies many best. ‘ thank you for reminding us to improve two-cents be humble and remember everyone.
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