A successful business partnership with your boss
Unsurprisingly, I spend a lot of time speaking with executive assistants, some who have been in senior roles a long time and others who are actively seeking new opportunities. Lately, it’s been interesting to learn that above all else (including the lucrative six-figure salaries on offer) that there is a clear desire among EAs to work with “good people” and in companies that champion its people first.
Earlier this year and after almost seven years of working with the best boss and Managing Partner Brian Tyson, I made the tough decision to leave SEC Newgate Australia to work full time in my business The Well-Suited Group - a side hustle I started in 2018 after realising a gap in the market for women in senior executive support roles needing more flexibility.
We often look for silver linings over the past 18 months and I found mine in the pandemic, helping me fight my battle in showing businesses that flexible work, works!
At TWSG, I’m often asked what a successful business partnership looks like between a leader and their Executive Assistant and while my points below might seem obvious, it’s often hard to find someone who ticks all the boxes – at least not instantly, this can develop over time working together:
A relationship built on trust and mutual respect
Sharing professional values and championing company values, together
EAs feel empowered to perform their role
Compatible communication which is both clear and open
Ability to handle disagreements with tact and diplomacy
Most importantly, having FUN
It’s no surprise that the Executive Assistant function has transformed from a supporting role to more of a strategic one. Today’s leaders no longer just seek EAs for administrative help, they value and seek their strategic counsel, project management skills, championing of company culture and up to date technical support.
After just a few months working together, Brian and I built a rapport and developed and spoke a language that only we understood. I know how fortunate I am to have worked alongside such an exceptional leader and human.
Working as an EA for a CEO of any organisation can be both challenging and rewarding. Some days require an extra gear and to go the extra mile. Feeling appreciated and receiving recognition for the hard work it takes to get the job done goes a long way to keeping a successful business partnership healthy.
Post Covid, companies are focussing on developing and living their Employee Value Proposition (EVP). EAs have an important role to play here and can provide valuable insight into company culture and communicating organisational values. Don’t forget it’s the admins who keep the wheels turning behind the scenes, to make the organisation and its management look good and run smoothly.
So, if you’re looking for flexibility either as an exec or an EA and you share these common values, please get in touch hear more about how TWSG could support your business objectives and career goals.