How to Become a Strategic Executive Assistant
The role of an executive assistant has become increasingly important. Organizations look for highly skilled administrative professionals to provide strategic executive assistance to their top-tier executive staff.
An effective executive assistant can be invaluable to a company's success. They understand the intricacies of their role and responsibilities and possess an aptitude for the strategic management of stakeholders. As an Executive's primary ‘person', EAs are seen as the 'glue' that brings everything together. They help to keep operations on track while providing essential administrative support.
To become a strategic executive assistant, you must also understand your Boss' goals and objectives. This means:
understanding the metrics they use for success,
the projects they are working on, and
where their priorities lie.
Knowing this information will help you be proactive in assisting them to achieve their goals. You'll be able to pre-empt tasks before they must be done or provide helpful resources or contacts whenever possible.
Strengthening your skillset is vital to becoming a successful strategic executive support professional. With the changing expectations from executives, staying ahead of the curve is critical. By regularly developing and mastering new abilities, you can maximize the potential to create high-value contributions.
Executive assistants who wish to be categorized as 'strategic' must possess more than the typical skillset. They must also have advanced technical capabilities and refined, sophisticated abilities essential for successful C-suite executive support.
The following are 5 of the top skills that you must be able to demonstrate to be considered 'strategic EA' material:
1. Strategic Planning
Good strategists understand how decisions made today will impact future outcomes. This makes it possible for them to look ahead and plan accordingly.
As a strategic executive assistant, you should be able to develop plans that align with the executive's vision and goals. EAs have to have a good understanding of their executive's priorities. This allows them to identify potential risks or opportunities that may arise in the future. In this regard, executive support must be proactive rather than reactive to succeed.
2. Decision Making
Managers can stay focused on their executive responsibilities when executive assistants can make timely, sound decisions. This requires EAs to be able to weigh up on options and consequences. They must apply critical thinking and fairness toward any situations or decisions that may arise.
3. Communication
Strategic EAs must communicate effectively and confidently up and down the chain of command. This includes communicating various topics and information - written and verbal - from executive directives to the executive's strategy. In global organizations, cross-cultural communication skills are critical to be considered an effective communicator.
As an EA, it's also essential to have sound judgment regarding just how much information should be shared. You must ensure that all relevant parties are kept in the loop without straying into confidential territory. This skill could be characterized as an art!
4. Organizational Skills
The higher the level of EA, the more project-based the role can become. There are fewer 'instructions' that fill up your to-do list and more updates where high-level information needs to be conveyed. The demands are, therefore, greater, meaning you must be able to prioritize tasks and manage your executive's workload to the point where they’re coming to you for the “what’s next” on their agenda.
How efficiently you manage operations is a hallmark of the quality of your executive support. How well you juggle multiple tasks and stakeholders while prioritizing the needs of your executive are the measures of your success.
5. Leadership
Executive assistants have the opportunity to develop and hone their leadership skills. In doing so, they become valuable advisors who can add additional expertise, emotional intelligence, interpersonal agility, and cultural competence.
By embracing these qualities, they are no longer seen as 'gatekeepers' but instead empowered leaders—the same kind of leaders who influence executive decision-making while taking ownership of essential tasks.
Developing these five critical skills can make a real difference in your executive's success and your career. To become a strategic executive assistant, take proactive steps. And when you're ready, invest in training and development. With the right attitude and knowledge, there is no limit to what you can achieve!
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The Global Assistant's Building Strategic Executive Support Program helps increase proficiency and cultivate confidence as a strategic assistant. We’re working directly with organizations that have taken the important step to develop their executive support teams and prepare them for success in the future of work. Get in touch if you want to learn more.