For high-performing Assistant and Executive partnerships, ownership, accountability, and trust are foundational elements. All three are critical to building a strategic partnership. In this post, we’ll focus on the first of these: taking ownership of your work as an Assistant.
Taking ownership as an Assistant means taking responsibility for your tasks, decisions, and actions. It’s about owning the quality of your work, the value you contribute, and the ideas you bring to the table.
When an Assistant takes full ownership, they drive their partnership with their Executive forward, ultimately contributing to the success of the organization. Here are a few ways to start taking ownership of your work as an Assistant.
Take control of your recruitment or career narrative with our job description template. Subscribe to download the Job Description Template for Executive Assistants and begin creating or refining job descriptions that truly reflect the demands and opportunities of the position.
The first step to taking ownership is reviewing your workload. Look at the day-to-day tasks assigned to you—there’s likely a lot to manage. These are your areas of control. For each task, ask yourself:
Take time to list these tasks and evaluate how you can optimize them. Efficiency is key, and since you own these responsibilities, it’s essential to ensure their success.
It’s also important to clarify what success looks like for each task. Are your Executive’s expectations clearly defined? If not, it’s up to you to have a conversation with them to align on outcomes and expectations. Taking initiative in this way demonstrates your accountability.
Accountability naturally leads to a results-focused mindset, which increases your value to the organization. For every task or project, think critically:
By consistently evaluating the return on investment for your efforts, you position yourself as a results-driven professional. If a task isn’t delivering value, take the initiative to improve or streamline it.
Assistants often have a deep understanding of their organizations, making them uniquely positioned to suggest improvements. If you have ideas, share them! Taking ownership means recognizing the value you bring and having the confidence to act on it.
However, ownership isn’t just about successes—it also means taking responsibility when things don’t go as planned. If you’re struggling with deadlines or tasks, don’t hesitate to seek support from your Executive. Being honest and proactive in these situations shows maturity and professionalism.
Colin Strachan’s Grindstone article, How to Build a Culture of Ownership and Accountability, offers a thought-provoking set of questions to help you evaluate your mindset:
These questions are great tools for self-reflection and can guide you toward greater ownership of your role.
Taking ownership of your work is a transformative skill. It empowers you to drive change, share innovative ideas, and deliver outstanding results.
If you’re ready to elevate your career as an Assistant, consider enrolling in The Confident Communicator through The EA Campus. This course provides the tools and knowledge you need to enhance your skills and fully own your role.
Be bold, take risks, and aim for excellence. Taking ownership today means building a brighter future for yourself and your organization tomorrow. Don’t wait—start owning your work now!
Share this article:
Join 30,000+ Assistants receiving our carefully crafted weekly newsletter packed with valuable tips, tricks, and insights tailored specifically for Assistants like you.
