Executives, this one is for you.
Do you know how to leverage your Assistant? How many of you are doing tasks that your Assistant can do better?
You were hired for your talents and skills, not to sort emails, schedule meetings, or even track down answers. Your Assistant has the skills and capacity to take care of those items and more.
Leverage your Assistant by allowing them in. They will make you shine, allow you to think clearly, and give you time back.
Make it a priority to sit down and discuss the following:
Email Triage
You won’t lose control of your email; they will be able to sort out and categorize what’s most important. Instead of reviewing 50 emails a day, it will be 5. They are able to cut out the junk, save the references, schedule meeting requests, answer quick questions, and give you what’s most important.
Calendar
Give it up. They can see your schedule and everyone else. They have the big picture. Let it go as long as you have agreed terms on what you prefer. If you don’t have all the details, scheduling a meeting can take an hour from start to finish. They can get it done in minutes.
Inner Circle
Let them in. Make sure they are at every meeting. Why? Do you want to repeat or try to remember all the highlights of the meetings, tasks to do? They can be your support. Let them build the relationships so they call them, not you, when they need something.
Goals
Share your goals, and they can help you achieve them. Your Assistant can keep you on track, do research that’s needed, and organize your thoughts or ideas. They want to be going in the same direction.
Do you see how you can leverage your Assistant so you can be a better Executive? Your Assistant wants to support and see you succeed; that is the ultimate win for them.
Bring them in, and create the best strategic partnership between the two of you. Trust, honesty, openness, and understanding are key.
Now, make a plan together so you can both share your skills and be excited together!
For additional advice or questions, please feel free to contact me. I’ve worked with my CEO as a strategic partner for the last 8 years, and we’ve watched the business grow tremendously. I also work closely with other Executives; they are now available to use their talents.
Additional blog posts: https://aspiringadmins.com/what-an-executive-may-delegate-to-you-the-executive-assistant/ and https://executivesupportmagazine.com/an-open-letter-to-anyone-working-with-an-assistant/
