10 ways EAs can thrive during disruption
Disruptions aren’t always bad. Sure, they can be uncomfortable and frustrating but they also provide an opportunity to stop and look at things from a different perspective.
Through COVID and forced lockdowns we are all experiencing disruptions to our work environments and routines. For EAs, there are a number of ways you could challenge the way you’re working remotely now - which could help transform your role into one with more flexibility in the future.
As the founder of The Well-Suited Group, it’s my job to seek out administrative support solutions which promote workplace flexibility. Take it from me, just because you’re not sitting in the same office as your boss doesn’t mean you are any less supportive or effective in your role.
Here are some tips for how you can raise the bar while working remotely from home.
The key to any successful partnership is trust and loyalty. You need to demonstrate true adaptability to continue to meet the demands of your executive – ensure you acknowledge all emails and respond quickly to requests as they come through.
Find a technology platform that suits your boss’ style. For busy executives, they may just prefer to text or use an instant messaging platform such as Microsoft Teams or Slack where they can easily get a request to you in real-time.
Try scheduling daily calls (before their day starts) and then reconcile the to-do-list at the end of the day; again, using platforms such as Teams, OneNote or Trello – which you can both access and update simultaneously to help track and stay on top of tasks.
Resilience is essential - it’s a stressful time! If your executive appears short tempered or direct, forgets to say please, or doesn’t return your call; they’re not ignoring you, they’re just busy … trying to win that deal or make a sale, quite possibly to save the business. Don’t take it personally. It’s not about you – this will make them feel more supported. Of course, this is not to excuse bad behaviour (which is unacceptable and should never be tolerated).
If you’re managing an inbox use flags, a colour system or assign tasks. Something that is simple, that you both understand. Remember to be flexible, if you’re supporting more than one person, a system that works for one might not necessarily be the right system for another.
A simple action when setting up meetings is to attach the email request to the calendar invite, it’s a quick way to easily reference background to the meeting without having to shift through thousands of emails.
Be proactive, don’t sit back and wait for your executive to assign tasks to you. If many of your tasks are assigned following actions from meetings – if appropriate join the meeting as a silent listener, or offer to take notes/ actions. Having a broader understanding of the business or project your executive is working on can be helpful to ensure your boss stays on top of his agreed commitments.
Be clear and concise in your communication. Ask questions if you don’t understand something, don’t procrastinate or mull over the task, it’s a waste of time.
Take this opportunity to upskill. There are many online resources out there to support administrators. LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of short courses, or consider joining a networking group. It’s a great way to connect and collaborate with like-minded EAs.
Finally, if you do have a gap in your day – step away from your desk, take a break and appreciate the downtime.
The ability to remain calm amid the chaos is an enduring trait of highly-skilled EAs. Treat the disruptions as an opportunity to prove yourself as truly indispensable.
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Best,
Lauren