Executive Assistant
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Executive Assistants (EAs) are seasoned professionals with a track record of leadership and management. Because assisting their boss in achieving his or her strategic objectives is a core responsibility of the position, they are expected to be completely informed of their executive’s ambitions. The EA’s capacity for prioritization and concentration under duress is evidence of their adaptability, suppleness, and change responsiveness in a setting where priorities are continuously moving.
EAs stay up to date with technical advancements so they can swiftly pick up new skills and keep a close eye on the newest gadgets. EA’s duty includes influencing decisions by suggesting the newest and most affordable workplace technology. EAs are entrusted with translating protocols, such as the company’s purchasing process, and developing and maintaining systems and procedures.
Here are some of the duties and skills that an employer may want in an executive assistant aside from the core 25 listed on the Homepage of this section.
- Be an ambassador – As a gatekeeper and spokesperson of your employer, you must become acquainted with their objectives and ideals, as well as those of the organization. You must grasp and remember the big picture, especially when working with people outside the organization. Spend some time learning about the company’s values as well as its inner workings. Get to know all of the team members, knowing their duties included. This makes sure that you are ready to respond to inquiries and make choices that are advantageous to the executive and the company.
- Be an on-your-feet thinker – Along with being able to predict difficulties, you must also be able to solve them on the fly. As an EA, there could be a lot of situations you might be faced with that don’t have any clear-cut answers. Hence, you need to think in an unconventional manner and maximize every tool available. This comes with a certain measure of autonomy. You must be comfortable making decisions on your own and making spur-of-the-moment decisions at the appropriate time. Of course, it’s critical to grasp your power’s limitations and strike the proper balance between the two.
- Be a sharp negotiator – You’d be astonished at how valuable this talent is for an administrative executive. EAs spend a significant amount of time interacting with and talking with vendors and service providers, and they must be able to negotiate in order to achieve the desired results for the company or the executive. This could be for an executive’s travel needs, reserving a seat at the nicest restaurant for a business lunch, finding the best bargain on office supplies, or even obtaining tickets or access to elite events. EAs frequently use these contacts to call in favors and obtain inside information or recommendations, so the time you would have spent networking comes into play here.
- Be proficient in the art of project management – When you think about it, an executive assistant is effectively a project manager in charge of a single but extremely complex project. A high-level executive’s wants and requirements. A solid understanding of some of the key principles and techniques of project management would thus be beneficial. EAs are frequently responsible for event coordination, which includes designing team-building activities aimed at improving company culture.
- Be a leader and a team player – Other employees will frequently come to you for assistance and advice because you work in close proximity to some of the most important people in a firm. You have insight and expertise into the requirements and desires of executives, as well as what is best for the organization. You also have access to a treasure trove of fantastic contacts and connections. You will be asked to deliver messages to the rest of the organization on behalf of the team on occasion. This puts you in a position of authority, but it also demands you to work well with others. You must represent the executive, but you should also be someone that people feel they can come to in times of need. Because of the nature of your profession, you will need to collaborate with other team members at various times depending on the situation. This is especially true when you have to take the lead on projects such as planning team-building events, supervising office work, or coordinating meeting logistics.
- Be a lover of learning – When your day is flowing at a hundred miles per hour, finding opportunities to improve your abilities or even learn new ones may seem impossible. That being stated, this is the ideal approach to develop in your job and offer more value to yourself as an executive assistant. Keeping abreast of the latest news and trends related to your business and on the lookout for tools that can make your life easier, will immediately improve your position as an executive assistant. EAs are the organizational equivalent of a Swiss army knife. The skillsets presented in this brief overview are fairly broad and may appear intimidating at first, but don’t let that deter you. If you want to flourish as an executive assistant, you must first be prepared to take on this demanding yet rewarding work and learn as you go. Mistakes are unavoidable, but if you accept them in stride and learn from them, you’ll be OK.
- Have a basic understanding of corporate law and governance – Corporate governance is a crucial ability to have since it would enable EAs to support the higher executives in an efficient manner if they had a working knowledge of corporate law and governance.
Next to an executive’s spouse and children (provided she/he is married and the couple have children), the EA is the most important person in that executive’s life. Value this honor and be grateful for the opportunity to serve. You are an executive and most likely have people serving under you. Train them well because once you get to this level you will soon be running a company whether it is your own or for someone else if that is your goal. Congratulations, you are at the top of your field.
*If you are looking for a job/career, and would like to apply as one of my personal assistants, please click on the “Contact Us” Tab on the menu to the left and follow the instructions. Thank you.