The 4 Elements of a High-Impact Executive Assistant

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Remember learning about the classical elements of nature in elementary school? Well, let me give you a quick refresher. The four elements, often referred to as the classical elements of nature, have been used in various philosophies and traditions to describe the fundamental components of the physical world. We can see the elements throughout ancient Greek philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine, and alchemy. And each of the four elements have their own interpretation and significance. The four elements are:

1. Earth – Represents solidity, stability, and physicality.
2. Water – Symbolizes fluidity, emotions, and adaptability.
3. Air – Associated with intellect, communication, and movement.
4. Fire – Represents energy, transformation, and passion.

After reading these descriptions, I couldn’t help but notice that these four elements sound surprisingly like the key elements of a high-impact Force Multiplier (Executive Assistant, Executive Business Partner, Chief of Staff, etc.).

Let’s take a closer look at each of these elements and what you can do today to harness their power.

The 4 Elements of a High-Impact Executive Assistant and Force Multiplier

EARTH

Earth represents solidity, stability, and physicality. This element is grounded in fact, research, and truth. The Earth element represents the foundation of life, a grounded and substantive approach, and a connection to life’s path. Executive Assistants and Force Multipliers are the truth tellers. There are few individuals in an organization who have a 360 degree view of the organization, and the Principal, as well as the relationship and trust to be willing and able to tell them the truth (whether or not they want to hear it). On a more tactical level, great Force Multipliers are highly adept at research, gathering information from many different stakeholders and seemingly disparate sources and communicating it in such a way to garner understanding and action. Executive Assistants and Chiefs of Staff are often the calm amidst the chaos, the stable and steady foundation that allows their Principal to thrive.

Take Action – I think there are two actions EAs and Force Multipliers can implement this week to harness the Earth element.

1. Curate Your Input – In order to be grounded in fact and truth, you have to ensure you’re consuming information that is both in alignment with your leader’s and company’s objectives, as well as understanding the other side of the issue. Your ability to provide sound advice and engage in multi-dimensional conversations with key stakeholders is all dependent on what you are reading, listening to, watching, as well as who you surround yourself with. Your output will only be as good as your input. Get clear on what you need to be consuming, sign up for newsletters, subscribe to podcasts, and pick up copies of the books that will help you bring a grounded and substantive approach – the Earth element – to your work.

2. Share an Uncomfortable Truth – As a Force Multiplier, you are uniquely positioned to be a trusted advisor, confidante, and teller of truths to your Principal. Your Principal does not need a “yes” man or woman by their side – they usually have enough of those. What they need is someone to check them and to tell them what others won’t. It’s is not about who is right or wrong, it is about seeing all all sides of an issue and then finding the truth that aligns with the mission and vision and moving forward with clarity and purpose from that place of alignment. Ask yourself, “What conversation am I avoiding with my Principal? What am I holding back for fear of hurting their feelings, being wrong, being dismissed, being uncomfortable, etc.? Will sharing this hard truth make my Principal a better leader or help the company grow?” Start there. And say the thing that you know needs to be said. It will not be comfortable. But those feelings are short-lived and the outcome is progress and growth.

WATER

Water symbolizes fluidity, emotions, and adaptability. This element is amorphous and a reminder to be flexible and embrace the gray. The Water element represents emotional release, intuition, and inner reflection.

Executive Assistants and Force Multipliers are called upon daily to adapt to the changing nature of their Principal’s priorities, projects, schedule, and more. Bruce Lee told us to “be like water”. I can’t think of any role that requires this more than that of a Force Multiplier, except perhaps for the leader themselves. Force Multipliers flow. They identify and fill the gaps in a growing organization, they flex their communication style to align with key stakeholders, and they shift from tactical execution to strategic planning in a blink of an eye.

Take Action – Embrace the Water element, develop your emotional intelligence (EQ) and adaptability quotient (AQ), and go with the flow. Here’s how:

1. Journal – One easy way to improve your emotional intelligence is by being aware of your emotions. Try journaling at the end of workday on how your projects, meetings, and various interactions with colleagues went. Note how you were feeling and how your emotions (positively or negatively) impacted your decisions-making, communication, and productivity. Bonus points for tracking this for your Principal as well. It could be very interesting to reflect each month on what went well and perhaps what didn’t based on your (and your Principal’s) emotional state. Self-awareness is key to success. With this information, you can identify patterns and start adjusting meetings, decision-making frameworks, and energy breaks to make sure everyone is more effective.

2. Question Your Assumptions – Your adaptability quotient (AQ) is a measurement of how well you handle change, learn from your mistakes, overcome challenges, and adjust in real-time. Very important skills for professionals today. To improve your AQ, question your assumptions – often. Ask yourself, “Is there a better way?” “Why have we always done it this way? Is that way going to serve us well in the future?” “What are the potential consequences of this decision?” “What are we missing?” Be willing to be learn, be willing to be wrong, to find new solutions, and to embrace change. By questioning your beliefs and pervious assumptions, you may be surprised by the answers you find.

3. Lead in Times of Uncertainty – You will definitely need to call upon the Water element during times of uncertainty and constant change. Between managing shifting priorities and managing your team member’s emotions, it is key to be able to operate in the gray. For tips on how leaders and Force Multipliers work together to lead in times of uncertainty, click here .

AIR

Air is associated with intellect, communication, and movement. This element is adventurous, curious, and ever-changing. The Air element symbolizes freedom, fresh perspectives, and transformation.

Executive Business Partners and Force Multipliers are some of the smartest and most strategic thinkers in an organization. It behooves you to have an EA by your side. They are masters at keeping people, projects, and priorities moving forward on behalf of their Principal and the organization as a whole. They use their communication skills daily to force multiply the leader’s vision, provide clarity and focus to various stakeholders, remove roadblocks, and help their leader make high quality decisions. Executive Assistants, Chiefs of Staff, and Force Multipliers are the communication conduit for their leader and the Executive Office – ensuring the right information gets to the right person at the right time. Furthermore, asking powerful questions is a Force Multipliers superpower. No need to be a subject matter expert, when you can ask the right question that transforms the conversation and drives clarity around decisions.

Take Action – Harness the Air element by leaning into your communication skills and curiosity.

1. Ask Questions to Drive Clarity – Asking thoughtful and strategic questions helps drive clarity in the conversation, helps to prioritize projects, and ultimately, helps you and your Principal understand not only why you are making a decision, but who you will need to help execute, and how you’re going to get it done. One key component of being a strategic business partner is challenging your Executive’s thinking and what better way to do that, then by asking questions that helps them see a different perspective and strengthen their thinking? Click here for 10 questions to asks your leader to help prioritize and execute projects, and then make your own list too!

2. Create a Cadence of Communication – From weekly 1:1 meetings, to monthly company-wide meetings, to department strategy sessions, to company newsletters, to weekly inspirational messages from your Principal, take the time to determine what communication needs to be delivered each week/month/quarter, to whom, and via what medium in order to share the vision and help the company transform and grow. Once you have your list of what communication need to happen, get it scheduled, and work on behalf of your leader to draft emails, presentation, speeches, slide decks, etc. to keep it moving forward and make sure it gets done.

FIRE

Fire represents energy, transformation, and passion. This element is intense, responsive, innovative, and fast-paced. The Fire element inspires confidence in others, embodies courage and inner strength, is a tool for transformation, and offers a connection to personal power.

A Force Multipliers primary responsibility is to ensure the objectives, goals, and vision of their leader are organized, communicated, delegated, and executed. This is all Fire. An Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff are both extensions of the leader, charged with supporting their work, maximizing their reach, and creating time, space, and energy for them to focus on their most important work. A Force Multiplier must be the leader’s partner and able to not only keep up, but in a perfect world, stay at least one step ahead. This requires the EA and Force Multiplier to embody the Fire element, drawing upon their confidence, strength, energy, and passion to inspire confidence in their Principal and team, and help navigate change, and lead well alongside their leader.

Take Action – The Fire element is probably my favorite (I’m an Aries!). I also think it most closely aligns with the mindset and principles of a Force Multiplier. It evokes the concepts of influential leadership and partnership. It also reminds me how important our personal power and individual strength is, in order to own our career and be the CEO of our life. Here’s one way to embrace the Fire element, starting now.

1. Improve Your Executive Presence – Executive presence, in short, is your ability to inspire confidence in your leader, your colleagues, and your direct reports.?Executive presence is an amalgamation of confidence, poise, clear and concise communication, reliability, vulnerability, and strength. And how you show up sets the tone for your organization, and beyond that, for your career growth. The good news is, that like any other skill, with time and intention, you can improve your executive presence. Click here for 9 ways to develop your executive presence .

Force Multipliers are generalists, and as such, it’s important to understand how you can use each of the natural elements – Earth, Water, Air, and Fire – to your advantage. These four elements are key to helping you become a high-impact Executive Assistant or Force Multiplier. Embrace all of the qualities you bring to your role, and go forth and lead up!