How do you build a strong relationship with your executive assistant?

Trust the assistant, check in often, back-up decisions made, discuss concerns privately and never blame or talk negativily to others at work about her/him.

EA’s have great insight and probably know their executives better than most! Learn to trust your EA - they always have your best interest in mind!

ONE thing I know that has been helpful to me is effective communication. Don't just give instructions but communicate your instructions well. Does your EA truly understand what he/she is expected to do? When communication is in place almost 50percent success is achieved.

Trust the person you are working with, clear communication makes way for efficiency and a good working relationship. Be empathetic.

I have my VP's inbox and manage any travel approvals, concur approvals etc, I only flag to my manager when I need too, otherwise I will action these. Any admin work I would manage as my manager doesnt need that wasted time going through those actions.

Delegate Tasks: By delegating task to your Executive Assistant, you are preparing them(him or her) for the future and also teaching them what is expected of them when they are promoted to such position and relieving yourself from excess fatigue arising from excess work load.

I believe that delegating makes the job easy to be completed on time. Trusting that the person who has been delegated knows what they are doing and have an open door policy to allow for people to ask questions and to learn more from each other.

Delegate small to start so you can build that trust and also build the foundational knowledge the EA will need to know to support you in the best way possible. A competent EA will be able to complete tasks effectively and anticipate any additional needs you may have. A strong EA will be your strategic partner; they’ll be one step ahead a lot of the time so your need to delegate should actually reduce as time goes on as they will anticipate the requirements ahead of time. Remember, EAs are not mind readers (though some of us are pretty close!). We can work autonomously when required but sometimes we do require a little steer in the right direction from you to make the biggest influence on your life and day-to-day!

Every C-Level Executive purpose is to reduce work load and improve their time of delivery that is efficiency hence the need for an EA. If delegating tasks isn't part of what an individual Executive does then you don't need a supporter.

I feel that people learn best from experiences, good or bad, and I utilize those situations to have open dialogue with my team. We all learn and can share in the ups and downs.

Feedback is a way to improve. Be i praise or criticism feedback, learn to accept without biases and reflect on them for your self-development

As our performance depends on our team performance, its always good to give constructive feedback to the EA while making the EA understand our expectations.

Feedback zugeben ist für mich der wichtigste Teil im Alltag (egal ob auf der Arbeit, in der Selbstst?ndigkeit oder auch im privaten Alltag). Man kann sich stetig weiterentwickeln, kann sich mit anderen Austauschen und auch Arbeitsabl?ufe verbessern. Arbeiten auf Augenh?he ist das wert- und respektvollste, was man machen kann.

The majority of a good EA’s work goes unnoticed because they keep the wheels turning seamlessly and autonomously. But it’s still so important to thank them and acknowledge their contribution. Some EAs are only recognised for their efforts when they aren’t around due to holiday or sick leave. Don’t let that be your EA!

Praise loudly; Criticize quietly (Catarina II) Bosses should acknowledge and commend high-quality work by specifying the aspects that were particularly impressive.

Après plus de 20 ans d'expérience en qualité d'Assistante de Direction, j'ai connu de nombreux managers. Les feedbacks sont toujours constructifs, bons comme plus critiques. Des appréciations positives permettent de construire une relation basée sur le respect, la confiance mutuelle et un réel partage d'expérience.

Sometimes it is just the little things like a thanks for all your hard work at the end of a long day or the end of a project. Other times it can just be taking the time to ask how they are going, actively listening to their answers and then engage in their responses. Even a cup of coffee, or a lunch and time away from the office space can be a great way to connect, whilst checking in and keeping your staff members morale high and making them feel appreciated for all they do for you!

Learning and development is such a huge benefit to ANY employee - it always amazes me when I hear Assistants who can't get funding to attend "relevant" training for the role. Yes, organisations may have their own in-house L&D platforms or access to LinkedIn learning which is great but not enough, nor typically relevant to our niche. There is nothing better than learning from experts who have walked in our shoes and can give us L&D to advance our careers, not just brush up on the soft skills and typical software (Word, PPT, Excel) that we should all know and be fully proficient in as a bare minimum (in my opinion). Organisations please give your Assistants free reign and free choice of where they want to use their L&D budget.

I leaped at the opportunity to answer this question! With over a decade of experience in administrative support positions. Here is what I've learned: - Most EAs do not plan to be EAs for the entirety of their career but often lack the support to progress. - Your EA is likely one of your most knowledgeable and equipped employees for advancement. - Administrative Assistants are not to be confused with secretarial roles and functions. They must acquire years of experience, training and education to efficiently support executives. - A good EA has the potential to improve the efficiency of the entire organization! I cannot wait to bring more awareness and solutions to this overlooked group with some upcoming projects. Stay tuned!

Dans mon Groupe, nous avons créé il y a 5 ans une Communauté des Assistant(e)s proposant, en plus d'un réseau interne dédié, une vraie source d'informations, de formation et d'entraide. Je fais partie du Copil Formation, nous proposons régulièrement des ressources à toutes les assistant(e)s affilié(e)s. Mes managers encouragent cette initiative qui au final bénéficie à tous.

Offer opportunities for their personal growth or career advancement, such as attending training and taking new responsibilities.

Could not agree more Jodie that’s why I am funding my own training and attending the PA show . It’s not just paying for training it’s also giving EAs time to actually do the training . No one learns anything after a 10 day working

Encourage the mentality of the Chief Empowerment Connector into the role of your executive assistant in the company. Encourage them to demonstrate empathetic compassion and show respect as part of their collaboration with the colleagues. Assign them with buildings up the environments that employees are positively supported by their colleagues at work. Creating an inclusive and collaborative culture through a proactive and mindful strategy is a vital role for an executive assistant, who assists in increasing cohesion as well as boosting morale among teammates. Rather than just making the working environment pleasant, it is also the key to the growth and prosperity of the organization.

Collaboration! Foster a collaborative environment where both of you can work together effectively towards common goals. Building a strong relationship with your executive assistant involves clear communication, mutual respect, appreciation, and support.

Mon manager m'a proposé d'intégrer un Groupe de travail sur l'efficacité collective et la valeur ajoutée des fonctions transverses. Cela a été très positif, tant au niveau strictement professionnel qu'en terme de "Soft skills" acquis. Les collaborateurs participant à ces ateliers m'ont également per?ue différemment en voyant plus en moi "qu'une simple Executive Assistant".

Team work goes a long way. Offer support on projects or tasks when possible. Keep the EA updated, bearing in mind thst he/ she has to update senior management. Aporeciate the work an EA does ! It is a job with a lot to do but the least recognition.

I view the role of an Executive Assistant (EA) akin to that of a Gatekeeper. All information and communication are channeled through the EA to the Director, making their role pivotal in managing access and ensuring streamlined communication flow. It is imperative to provide feedback to the EA and consistently acknowledge their exceptional performance. This practice is mutually beneficial, as it helps prevent situations of dissatisfaction and the possibility of the EA quietly resigning. Regular feedback fosters a positive working relationship and ensures continued excellence in support services.

Create a good balance between autonomy and constant feedback. Executive Assistants ultimately want to grow underneath their execs but still feel like their execs trust them to get things done on their own.

It is all of the above, based on assistant’s motivators. But generally the most important are: respect and appreciation for your assistant’s efforts and contributions. Acknowledge their support and value their input and ideas. Offer constructive feedback to help your assistant grow and improve their skills. Encourage open dialogue to address any issues or concerns promptly.

Clear communication and listen to understand. I worked for a company in the past ,where the CEO was intimidated by his own EA ,it was odd and very weird