The leader assistant and the future of work
The pandemic has forced many businesses to evolve the way they work. With teams working remotely, the executive assistant role has taken on new importance. To excel in this role, you need to have strong leadership skills. How does one develop these skills to become an excellent leader assistant in the new way of work?
We could start with talking about leadership development courses for executive assistants but let's take a step back. You may actually already have the essential leadership skills but have yet to tap into them.
What is leadership anyway?
When we canvassed our global assistants about what they thought 'leadership' was, the words they used to describe it were – motivating, inspiring, empowering, mentor, confident, communicator, calm under pressure, and a relationship builder.
These adjectives have something in common. They mostly inspire a feeling in us. Would you agree? And that's what leadership is - the ability to tap into others’ emotions in a way that influences and motivates them to achieve common goals. To be an effective leader, you need to know how to align your communication to articulate your vision in a way that resonates and inspires others to follow you. You also need to be able to make decisions quickly and efficiently while keeping the best interests of your team in mind.
In the executive assistant role, you will often be called upon to take on a leadership role within your team. This means that you will need to be able to delegate tasks, manage projects, and resolve conflicts quickly and effectively. In order to do this, you need to have strong emotional intelligence skills. The critical question here is - can you motivate, inspire and empower people? If the answer is yes, then you have the potential to be an excellent leader assistant in the new way of work.
Of course, leadership is not something that can be learned overnight. It is a competency that develops over time with practice. If you are looking to further develop your leadership skills, many resources are available. There are online courses, books, and even leadership development programs specifically for executive assistants. But all the books in the world won't help if you don't have a critical measure of leaders - emotional intelligence, the starting block for all great leaders.
What is Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Emotional intelligence is considered a higher-level skill as it relies on two competencies - perceiving emotions and facilitating thought - to work effectively. It is the ability to be aware of and understand your own feelings and the emotions of others. This includes being able to regulate your emotions in challenging situations, as well as being able to empathise with and motivate others.
To regulate emotions means being able to stay calm under pressure and manage your stress levels. This is an essential skill for executive assistants, who often must deal with last-minute requests, tight deadlines, and demanding stakeholders.
Empathy is the ability to understand how someone else is feeling and to share in their emotions. This is a critical skill for executive and personal assistants, who often deal with upset clients or employees. Empathising with someone in a difficult situation can help diffuse and resolve the issue.
Motivation is the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve their goals. This is essential for assistants, who often manage projects and encourage team members to meet deadlines.
There are some practical ways to hone in on your emotional intelligence skills, including:
practising mindfulness and meditation - will help you to be more aware of your own emotions and how to manage them effectively;
observing the people around you - pay attention to how others are feeling and what might be causing them to feel that way;
journaling about your emotions - will help you to understand your triggers and how to manage them;
seeking out feedback - ask for feedback from others about how they perceive you. this will help you to understand how your behaviour is affecting others and what you can do to improve;
taking time to reflect on your experiences - after a challenging situation, take some time to reflect on what happened and what you could have done differently.
building solid relationships - focus on building strong, supportive relationships with the people you work with;
being open to change - be open to trying new things and making changes in your behaviour if it means you will be more effective in your role.
listening more than you speak - this will help you to understand others' perspectives and build rapport;
being assertive - learn how to stand up for yourself and your team and make your voice heard;
establish and honour your boundaries – be willing to push back, respectfully, assertively when your boundaries have been crossed
These are just a few of the many competencies you will need to excel as a leader assistant in the post-pandemic world. With an on-point skill set, and some project management skills, you will be able to take on any challenge that comes your way and find success through leadership skills.
Making it happen - How to be a Leader EA
Another great way to develop leadership skills is by volunteering to take the lead on a project within your organisation or external industry association. If you feel you're not quite ready, seek a mentor. Connect with someone who has the experience you desire and learn from them.
Finally, always be on the lookout for opportunities to learn new skills. The world of work is constantly changing, and training programs constantly evolving and providing many opportunities for online or in-person learning. Staying up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies has never been more accessible.
By continuously learning, you will be able to adapt to change and stay ahead of the curve.
What has changed in your workplace in the last couple of years? What challenges have you faced in your role? How have you adapted, and what did you learn from the experience? Share your stories in the comments below.