Remote work is now the new normal for many people around the world. While most have welcomed and thrived in this new way of work, for many executive and personal assistants, remote work has revealed distinct challenges and uncovered opportunities for growth.

Assistants who have been relied upon to be the 'eyes and ears', 'the glue' or 'central hub', remote work has made delivering on what might have been considered an essential aspect of the role, rather tricky!

For independent and autonomous executive support, perhaps not much has changed other than the work environment, and maybe a furry, four-legged co-worker is now involved! Oh, and no longer having to care too much about work attire! 

In the workplace of 12 months ago, some assistants were quite literally at arm's length. They were relied upon in that relatable fluid, busy office dynamic. Remote work, however, has made some feel like an 'outsider' and no longer front row centre to the action. The inability to impact what you can't see has given rise to feelings of being ineffective or being sidelined due to an "out of sight out of mind" boss mentality. 

In other cases, it was a massive revelation to managers just how critical their assistant has been in keeping the momentum going and achieving their high-level tasks. Perhaps for the very same reasons of proximity, or, more likely, because of the strong working relationship they’ve built which honours trust, communication, flexibility and empathy in reciprocal form.

With news of layoffs, redundancies and businesses on the brink of closure, demonstrating value to employers has never been more critical. For all professionals, including executive support, there are some vital soft skills that we need to lean into to make remote work, work and ensure you continue to thrive in your role.

We can never be too resilient.

In the first instance, adopting a more resilient outlook, especially in times of rapid change is essential. When faced with uncertainty – as we have this past year on so many levels - being resilient means trying to remain pragmatic to be in a position to be part of the solution rather than the problem. We need to manage change in step with our leaders and go that extra bit further to champion their decisions.

Being resilient means you are also well aware that taking ownership of your work/life balance is essential to stay focused and avoid burn-out. Knowing your stress triggers and practising self-empathy are crucial factors.  

Set boundaries and honour them 

Setting boundaries is not a soft skill, but strong communication skills are!

It's not in the limits you set but how you articulate them that define your soft skills. This means having strong, agile communication skills to clearly state the values that are important to you while acknowledging the priorities of the business. 

Learn about communication styles 

We all have a default style of communication. Understanding how communication styles differ and learning agile communication skills can profoundly improve the quality of your workplace relationships. Being mindful of your communication style is essential to communicating with respect and consideration. Knowing how to convey your messages via virtual platforms is also a factor that makes having top-notch communication skills a high-priority. 

Empathy is a super skill

Empathy for self and others is critical. Empathy paves the way for understanding and creating stronger connections. And in connecting with others, we can better collaborate with them.

Collaborating with those we can not see

Working remotely makes teamwork a tricky proposition, especially when team members can’t be tracked down or they’re not answering your urgent messages. Collaboration begins with knowing how to build strong working relationships because we need allies more than ever! Be clear about your expectations for working together in this new way of work and what you can accommodate in terms of their requirements. Collaboration requires a commitment to diligence.  Setting regular weekly or daily catch-ups or check-ins by phone, email, text or virtual platforms helps to establish a dependable pattern that your team or manager can expect and rely on. Exercising diligence and discipline in your processes and new remote-work methods are essential to staying effective in your role. 

Adapting your approach to work

Widen your opportunities by focusing on strengthening the skills that harness flexibility, resilience, empathy, trust and communication. By focusing on building these value-add skills will not only help you more readily adapt to changing dynamics such as working remotely but also serve you well into the future.