How to be a successful business partner
In today's fast-paced business world, the relationship between an executive and their executive support professional is crucial to the partnership's success and, by extension, that of the organization. This relationship can only thrive when built on trust, transparency, and accountability. By fostering these values, the executive and their business partner, or executive assistant, can work together towards a common goal and achieve great things.
So, how can we establish trust, transparency, and accountability in our working relationships - particularly those in the world of executive support?
Below are seven ways executives and their EAs can create a strong foundation for success through collaborative partnerships and transparent communication.
1. Establish a clear definition of your roles and responsibilities
The work of executive support is highly specialized and can often be complex, and expectations are hard to manage. Therefore, establishing expectations and creating clarity is essential to achieving a successful executive/business partner relationship. By proactively understanding and defining your role and that of your manager and respective responsibilities, you can ensure that efforts are allocated efficiently and effectively without risk of duplication or confusion. With the understanding in place of what everyone's responsibilities entail, there is greater potential to foster healthy communication dynamics, which serves as the foundation for building trust-based partnerships between executives and their executive support.
2. Communication is Key
Clear communication is essential in any successful relationship. In the EA/executive relationship, it is even more paramount. Both parties must be able to communicate effectively to ensure that goals and expectations are met. Communication should be open, honest, and transparent, which means that you and your principal feel confident expressing your thoughts and ideas without fear of judgment or criticism. Additionally, establishing regular communication lets you stay up-to-date on company activities and progress towards goals. Establishing a regular meeting schedule is essential, but communication should go beyond scheduled meetings. Executives and EAs should be available to each other for quick check-ins and feedback and to address any issues that may arise.
3. Foster Trust
Trust is the foundation upon which any successful relationship is built. This is especially true in this unique support dynamic, where the EA is often given access to confidential information and entrusted with important tasks. Does your Executive trust that you will handle sensitive information carefully and use your best judgment when making decisions? Do you trust that your executive has your best interests in mind and that your work is valued and appreciated? Building trust takes time, but it is essential to creating a successful working relationship.
4. Foster mutual respect
Mutual respect is essential for any successful partnership. In the world of executive support, Executives should recognize and acknowledge the valuable contributions of EAs to the organization's success. Similarly, as an EA, you should understand the pressure and demands of executive-level responsibilities. This level of understanding requires insight into your executive's deliverables and key performance indicators. When we mutually understand the respective role's challenges, respect between executives and EAs can be fostered, creating a positive and collaborative working environment.
5. Practice transparency
Transparency is the act of being open and honest about one's actions and decisions. In an executive/EA relationship, transparency is essential to building trust and fostering accountability. Executives should be transparent about their goals, decision-making processes, and the rationale behind their decisions. On the other hand, as an EA, you should be transparent about your workload, challenges, and progress towards meeting your goals. By being open, both parties can better understand each other's motivations and decision-making processes.
6. Emphasize accountability
Accountability is the act of taking responsibility for one's actions and decisions. In an executive/EA relationship, both parties must be willing to take responsibility for their work and decisions. This means that if something goes wrong, both parties must work together to find a resolution and take steps to prevent the same problem from happening again. This can only happen if both parties are willing to admit their mistakes and take ownership of their work. By emphasizing accountability, executives and EAs can create a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
7. Share feedback
Optimal performance requires continuous feedback. Executives and EAs should create a culture where feedback is part of the conversation rather than relying only on the quarterly, bi-annual or annual formal process. This includes feedback on work performance, areas for improvement, and how the working dynamic can be improved. By being receptive to feedback and acknowledging the partnership's successes and shortcomings, executives and EAs can build an agile and more robust relationship.
Building a successful and meaningful relationship between you and your executive requires intention, hard work, trust, transparency, and accountability. It's all about fostering open communication and developing collaborative partnerships for the organization's best interests (and yours, too!).
While there may not be one absolute "secret" to success in this unique relationship, executives and EAs must commit to creating a positive working dynamic where expectations are set clearly, and everyone has equal input into decisions. By cultivating an environment of mutual respect, trust, transparency and accountability, the executive-EA dynamic can achieve great things!
So what's your secret to your successful executive/EA dynamic? Share with us your tips on how you've built an effective relationship with your partner in business.