In reality, good Executive Assistants are able to save their executives 5 hours in a 60 hour week. The truth is great EAs will be able to do more than that. As we previously wrote, the Executive Assistant role is transitioning more and more from supportive only to a strategic one. And that is exactly what separates the good EAs from the Rockstar ones.
The best Executive Assistants are the highly organized ones. The ones who are always proactively looking for new ways to improve their skills. They see around the corners. They are always 5 steps ahead. They have leadership skills. They understand unspoken needs. They have a very high level of emotional intelligence. They are risk-takers.
Here, we will give you one comparison ๐
Not so good EA when given multiple tasks probably won’t be sure how to prioritize them by importance with the excuse โI didn’t know it was that important, I can’t read minds.โ
Rockstar EA will do exactly that – read minds. And if not, they will at least ask all of the relevant questions!
Do you see the difference?
So if you are new in the game or you just want to step up your game keep reading. These are simple, but most important steps you can take on your way to becoming THAT Executive Assistant!
- COMMUNICATE
Do you know your Executiveโs preferences when it comes to… Well, everything? Are there any tasks that your Executive has to remind you of daily? Communicate! There is nothing wrong with getting to know your Executive and asking all of the questions! At the end of the day, the benefits are mutual!
- KEEP YOUR TO-DO LIST UP TO DATE
Write down tasks as soon as you think of them. Assign due dates. Revise your to-do list often. Put your tasks on the to-do list, not your goals. When you get one task done, cross it.
- WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN
Notes, ideas, thoughts, or plans. Passwords, links, important contacts. Doesn’t matter what is it but write it down when you think of it. We are only humans, it’s easy to forget simple things when we have a lot on our minds. Great EAs will have anything ready immediately when asked for specific info because they will know where to look for it while others will take time with it. Remember, one of the main goals is to save your Executive time, not add to it.
- KEEP THE WORKSPACE CLEAN
Not only that you will impress your colleagues, but you will be more productive. Keeping it tidy is a good way to cut down on distraction. If you work remotely, the same rules apply.
- IMPLEMENT A WEEKLY ROUTINE
I know, the words routine and Executive Assistant usually can’t be found in the same sentence. But in order to stay organized, it is essential to try and have some structure in place. Think about the tasks you have to do weekly and the best times to complete them. Example: Do expenses every Friday.
- WEEKLY ROUND-UP SESSION
Reflection is important. And every great assistant knows that! At the end of the week review what has been ticked off your to-do list, what have you achieved, and what are the most important tasks for next week. Also, if possible, create next week’s to-do list by the end of the day on Friday instead of doing it on Monday morning.
- TOUCHING EVERYTHING ONCE
This means that you process documents as soon as they are received. Read it, process it, and file it away โ never allow papers to pile up on your desk or in your inbox. Stick to these seven steps, and trust us, you will not only get the work done, but you will take things to the next level. And remember, you were hired to make sense out of chaos and to manage the work lives of others.
Now go crush it!