Tag: Executive Assistant

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Invest In Yourself

It’s all about you

Today’s message is short and sweet. Short because this will be brief. Sweet because it’s all about YOU–it has nothing to do with being an executive assistant.

I’ve never met an executive assistant who didn’t have a goal, a dream, or a creative passion outside of the office, but she/he often felt too drained, overwhelmed, or unable to find the time to pursue this personal goal whether it was going to school, writing a book (mine), making a quilt, starting a non-profit, glass blowing…so many great intentions, ideas, and projects! So little time to execute!

So today, I want to share this post by Dan Blank, We Grow Media: Invest in Whitespace.

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Managing Your Manager & Staying Organized

“Manage my business”

I recently met with an executive and asked him a simple question, “What makes an exceptional executive assistant?”

He said, “She or he knows how to manage my business.”

By business, he meant HIS business not the company’s–his priorities, his responsibilities, his everything from emails to calendar to meeting goals and expectations.

The next day I was speaking with an executive assistant I used to work with who I consider an exceptional assistant. She was preparing to interview for a role with an C-Level executive who has a reputation for being difficult due to his communication skills and lack of organization. My colleague and I discussed how she might best support someone like this manager and it evolved into this post because whether you are trying to be a more proficient assistant with a current manager or going to work with a new manager, there are two areas of focus that will improve your mutual success.

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One Way To Increase Your Manager’s Productivity

Ready! Set!  8 – 12 – 4 — FLEX!

Have you ever noticed how many meetings are scheduled to prepare for other meetings?

How many times have you heard your manager or a co-worker say, “I have so much to do, but I’m going to be in meetings all day.”

Unnecessary meetings and a lack of time to focus on goals and responsibilities is one of the number one reasons milestones are missed. Short of declining the meetings and looking like you, or your manger, isn’t a team player, how does one address this problem?

With calendar management.

After years of experience supporting an executive, I began blocking his/her and my calendar as follows:

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SMART Goals (Performance Objectives) For Assistants

Why Assistants Should Want Them

Performance objectives are important for three reasons. One, they establish clear performance expectations between the assistant and supervising manager. Secondly, they are used to determine year-end bonuses and merit increases. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, performance objectives allow each assistant to identify areas for training, or exposure opportunities in areas he/she is interested in. Bottom line, establishing performance objectives helps YOU establish YOUR career path. Maybe the career path is to be the best executive assistant in the world, or maybe you want to move into a different department, or maybe you want to move into meeting planning–whatever your ideal career path is, performance goals can be a roadmap that you build upon year after year to help you reach your longterm career goals. And they can document you making a difference and adding value.

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