Why the EA role will be changed forever after Covid-19

How COVID-19 Has Changed the Executive Assistant Role

There is currently a lot of conversation happening in relation to Executive Assistants (EAs). Many believe that there has never been a more challenging time for those in the role and speculate that major change will continue to come. As the COVID-19 lock down and restrictions continue to affect so many companies across a broad section of industries, remote working has started to become the new normal – but what does this mean for Executives and their assistants? Let's take a look at the five main ways we think the pandemic has permanently changed the EA job role for many. 

Less Visibility Less Opportunity - the work around

Put simply, Executive Assistants are less visible because they're not physically in the office anymore. What does this mean for EAs? Well, Executives are less likely to pass on additional work because they either "forget" the EA is there, or stop having those 'epiphany' moments where they identify their EA is far more capable than they thought and delegate things they normally wouldn't. Then there is the 'incidental' work that EA's get to take on, the tasks that they overhear their Executive or others in the business say that they cant get on top off. 

It's on Executive Assistants now to stay visible and make themselves indispensable to their team. In other words, EAs need to put themselves back on everyone's radar. This means staying proactive and looking for ways to add value and stay helpful. They will need to get on those Zoom meeting calls that they might have started to be left out of and listen to the cues so that they can be as proactive and preemptive as usual.  

Maintaining the importance of Relationship Building

A successful EA / Executive relationship thrives when the individuals take the time to build a relationship. Generally this is driven by the EA , as they know only too well the value of a trusting and open connection with their Manager. Face to face it is easier to make this happen by reading body language, having opportunistic conversations, catching up for impromptu coffees and listening in to what is happening around the Executive. Virtually it can be a real challenge, just like a long distance relationship! We see it all the time, the EA role only evolves when the relationship does, so making sure that the virtual relationship isn’t too ‘transactional’ will be a challenge for both parties.  

Changed Job Scope

COVID-19 restrictions mean Executives are travelling less and will most likely continue to do so for some time.  So, EAs are and will be spending less time managing travel arrangements, coordinating & preparing for meetings and planning events. On the plus side, for many EAs this means they have more time to spend on other more challenging or career developing tasks. However, there's a chance that Executives will use the extra downtime to improve their ability to be more self-sufficient in the way they operate, handing less over. Many have also started to talk about maintaining a better work life balance going forward. 

In the long term, this means EAs could see their workloads dwindle, and it'll be a less demanding and less stimulating job for many. 

Increased Creativity From Business Acumen 

In the past it may have been ok for an Executive Assistant to primarily have a good understanding of their Executive’s office and the administration function within their company. This would have allowed them to be able to think about their role creatively and add enough value by making changes to its function where necessary. But now more than ever it will be vital that an Executive Assistant has a thorough understanding of the entire business and the impact that each department has on each other. The expectations of how and where an EA can add value within the business will be greater,so they will need to be quite well rounded in their knowledge, kind of like a CEO, across all functions.

New Skills Will Be A Must

Is there anything that EAs can do to showcase their ongoing value to Executives? Absolutely. They can focus on learning, expanding or formalising "value-adding" skills, such as:

?         Leadership, many delegate and liaise with leadership teams at high levels already

?         Technology, becoming a systems champion is a must for an EA

?         Project management, a big part of what many do in an informal capacity

?         HR, EA's are often across confidential staffing matters and HR process

For a long time now successful EAs have reinvented themselves continuously to remain indispensable - moving forward this will not only be the case for successful EA's, but for all in the role. They'll be leaders in their own right, capable of managing teams, making critical decisions, driving change and holding the workforce together. 

EAs need to put themselves in an Executive's shoes right now. They must anticipate the challenges to come and figure out creative ways to deal with them. Rather than Executive Assistant, they should think of themselves as Business Partner or Business Assistant. Lets be honest EA's do run the show, we all know it and they just need to find a new way to make themselves continue to shine.