How to Work With Your Executive Assistant for Best Results!
No doubt you have worked hard to climb your way up the corporate ladder. Probably at times throughout your career, you wished there would be two of you to accomplish what you needed to do.
And then, you made it to the leadership ranks, and voila…an Executive Assistant appears! This is a dream come true. An extension of yourself. Someone to help you free up more time to be strategic and coach your people. But in the work I do as an Executive Coach, I can tell you that this Executive Assistant Fairy Tale sometimes ends up being just that, and the time of the leader and the EA is not utilized as well as it could be. As such, I’d like to share some tips for working with your executive Assistant for the best results!
1. Get Personal. Any good leader-executive assistant relationship is never 100 percent professional. It becomes a unique relationship filled with mutual respect and kindness. Take the time to learn about this person who works closely with you. Ask about their family life and interests. Be sure to share personal information about yourself too. Of course, you don’t need to fill your days listening to each other’s problems, but the more you know about each other, the more connected your relationship will become. Also, having a greater understanding of you will help your EA better do their job.
2. Carve out Boundaries. Creating boundaries with your EA isn’t something to leave to fate. You need to reflect on what your boundaries are and communicate that clearly to your EA. He or she needs to know what you want, what your preferences are, and how to best help you get what you need. This can change from time to time so it is a good idea to sit down a few times throughout the year and talk to him or her about exactly what you need. They are not a mind-reader. Take the guess work out of it for them and be straight with what serves your work best.
3. Respect. Your Executive Assistant could be one of the most meaningful people in your work life. But sometimes, we treat those who are the closest to us with the least respect. Remember, this person has the ability to make or break your career just as you have the same influence on that person. Treat them very well. Show them respect in front of other colleagues as well as behind closed doors. Taking the time to thank them and recognize them will pay spades.
4. Delegate. Write down a list of the things you need to accomplish today. Now delegate 60 percent of that to your team members and EA. I am hearing gasps. Your role is to lead and be strategic. Chances are you are working on things that are chewing up your leadership time. Figure out your hourly wage (based on the number of hours you are working). Is it really worth it for the company to be paying you $200 an hour or more to work on planning a lunch or double-checking the menu? Let go of control for your sake and for the sake of your EA.
5. Speak Your Mind. If your EA is working in a way that isn’t working for you, don’t just remain quiet and try to carry the extra load yourself. Be honest and approach the subject kindly. Let them know how they can best help you and give them specific examples.
6. Be Flexible. Executive Assistants work very hard. Their roles can be demanding. There may be times when you are travelling and can give them a few hours off as a special reward. You need to be respectful of your company’s culture but there are lots of creative ways you can show your EA that you appreciate them. Being a leader means thinking about the retention of good people on the team.
7. Ask Their Opinions. Executive Assistants are extremely knowledgeable. They hear the ‘word on the street’ from the staff at your organization, but they are also privy to leadership conversations and projects through their work with you. No other person at your organization will be able to flow so seamlessly through both levels. As such, ask them their opinions. Get their thoughts. They will appreciate that you care about their ideas. Tell them which of their ideas you have incorporated so she/he can understand the contribution they have made.
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