The role of EAs is evolving
The role of EAs is evolving
Executive Assistants (EAs) could well be the unsung superheroes of the business world – managing everything everywhere all at once.
Serving as adjuncts to the leadership team, EAs have always been a critical bridge between managers and teams. EAs are much more than schedulers and gatekeepers, ‘taking notes and hanging coats’ (as the secretaries of yore were often described).
They are strategic partners who excel at navigating the complexities of the business world, delegating up and down, building rapport and generally helping to steer a business in the right direction.
There isn’t an AI (artificial intelligence) tool available yet to deal with the unscripted nature of such a fluid range of tasks. So we’ll wager that there’s plenty of job security ahead for a good EA.
The modern EA: what to know
Because leadership itself has evolved over the decades, the role of the EA is evolving too. Top-down autocratic leaders have been long out of vogue, meaning that EAs don’t just execute orders from their managers. In fact, many business leaders don’t even seek EA support for traditional admin tasks, such as diary management or internal communications. They have the tools to do these themselves.
Instead, the modern EA works in an increasingly visible and autonomous capacity and is primed to anticipate their team’s needs. They will have a deep understanding of the business’ objectives and their executive’s key performance indicators.
Doing their job correctly might mean they’ll read board papers, comment on proposals, help track projects or manage team dynamics, depending on the industry and organisation. They might be proficient across an array of digital tools, from customer relationship management systems (CRM) to project management tools, social media automation and more.
Futureproofing your role as an EA
Despite the importance of EAs, their future in a firm will depend on them having the right skills. In no particular order, and depending on the organisation, here are the five broad skillsets that ambitious EAs can continue to hone according to our course facilitators.
Communication
As managers become more specialised, they often become more unavailable and disconnected from their teams. EAs often step in at this point, tactfully providing the myriad interpersonal contexts their teams need to function. Perhaps that executive has had a health scare or is divorcing, and needs certain diary times blocked out. Perhaps they’re about to celebrate an important work milestone, presenting an opportunity for team-bonding. EAs are valued for their ability to manage team expectations with skill and care.
Project management
Given their breadth of knowledge about a business and its principals, EAs are often involved in internal projects such as team-building days or office refurbishments. This requires experience with different project management models and tools, an understanding of the main terms involved and knowing how to meet the needs of end-users.
Marketing support
Much business marketing content needs to be spontaneous and user-generated, not slick or cleverly produced. Enter the efforts of a savvy team member who is handy with a camera, microphone and editing tools.
EAs are often the ones who step in. Many know how to edit a smartphone video of an awards night for social media, adding subtitles, intros and outros. They might create branded graphics to use on promotional campaigns. They can make updates to a website or intranet, or send event promotions and reminders using social media automation tools.
Event management
So, your business has an upcoming information night, celebration or offsite training day. Do the executives really want to research venue options, menus or transport themselves, and coordinate dozens of diaries to ensure everyone can attend? Of course not. But they do need a mind-reader who can make all the right decisions on their behalf. Enter a good EA, who can make all this happen with little oversight from executives.
Change management
Agile workplaces implement changes regularly, and EAs are often the logical choice to roll these out to the team. Whether it’s a new office sign-in system or hybrid workplace policy, EAs can help with stakeholder engagement, communication and decision-making.
The EA role has already evolved in the past decade and more change is ahead. You can gain a refresher or learn the fundamentals of the EA role at CCE’s Executive Assistant’s Course. Or, if you have five years’-plus experience, consider our Experienced Executive Assistant’s Course to get up to speed on emerging business trends and how to future-proof your role.
Apart from valuable tips on mindset and interpersonal communication, both courses include the latest guidance on tech suites to support the increasingly varied tasks fulfilled by the modern EA.