Mastering the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner can be challenging, but with the right approach, Assistants can transition from administrative support to a more strategic role. As an Assistant, you play a crucial role in supporting your Executive and ensuring the smooth operation of the team and the organization. However, it can sometimes be difficult to prove your value as a strategic partner, especially when the outcomes you deliver aren’t directly linked to financial results.
In a recent masterclass, we shared insights on the key skills to become a Strategic Business Partner, focusing on relationship-building as a vital step in this process. Building strong relationships can help you gain the respect and recognition you deserve.
You’ll find many practical tips and tricks to equip you with the skills to manage expectations, effectively communicate, and build strong relationships with your Executive. This resource is perfect for any Assistant looking to unlock their full potential and make a measurable impact on their team.
When it comes to mastering the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner, relationships are the foundation of success. As an Assistant, you interact with a variety of stakeholders, including your immediate team, support teams, and employees across the organization. Building relationships with these stakeholders helps you establish a network of trust and collaboration, which is essential for becoming a strategic partner. Without strong relationships, it becomes difficult to influence decisions, drive change, and add value in a strategic capacity.
Let’s start with the broader organization. A critical aspect of the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner is getting to know people from different departments and levels within the company. Take the time to understand their roles, goals, and priorities. Show genuine interest in their work and look for ways to collaborate and support them. This effort can help you build a positive reputation as someone who is approachable, reliable, and willing to go the extra mile. Building a positive reputation with the wider organization strengthens your strategic presence and highlights your potential as a business partner.
Another essential element of the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner is building strong relationships with support teams. These teams include IT, HR, Finance, and other departments that provide essential services to support your role. Establishing a collaborative relationship with support teams can streamline workflows, resolve issues faster, and ensure smooth coordination across different teams.
By prioritizing your relationships with support teams, you can remove roadblocks that may hinder your ability to work efficiently. Building trust and cooperation with support teams is essential to becoming a true strategic partner. The better your relationships with these teams, the more influence you’ll have over key processes and decisions, which is a hallmark of the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner.
Of all the relationships you cultivate, your relationship with your Executive is perhaps the most critical in mastering the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner. Your Executive needs to view you as a partner, not just as support. Take the time to understand their work style, preferences, and goals. Anticipate their needs, provide proactive support, and go beyond your regular responsibilities to add value.
When you master the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner, you actively align your work with your Executive’s strategic goals. This alignment makes you an indispensable asset. Your Executive will come to rely on you for insight, foresight, and proactive problem-solving. By building a strong, strategic relationship with your Executive, you’ll position yourself as a vital contributor to the team’s overall success.
You may be wondering how to prove your value when your contributions aren’t directly tied to financial results. One method for demonstrating the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner is to conduct a time audit of your Executive’s schedule. Calculate the hours you save them by taking on tasks and responsibilities. Divide your Executive’s salary by the number of working hours in a month and multiply that rate by the hours you free up for them. This tangible calculation allows you to present quantifiable evidence of the value you bring.
Another way to demonstrate the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner is to highlight the impact of your contributions on the wider organization. By streamlining processes, resolving issues, and collaborating with various teams, you increase overall efficiency and productivity. Your work may lead to cost savings, improved team morale, better collaboration, and more informed decision-making. While these results may not directly tie to revenue, they still add significant value to the organization’s bottom line.
If you want to master the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner, prioritize relationship-building. This includes developing trust, fostering collaboration, and offering proactive support to your Executive, support teams, and the broader organization. Strong relationships give you the credibility and influence needed to be seen as a strategic business partner.
Additionally, by quantifying your contributions through time audits and highlighting the broader impact of your work, you can demonstrate your value as a strategic partner — even when your results aren’t directly linked to monetary outcomes. By mastering the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner, you’ll find yourself increasingly seen as a key stakeholder within your organization.
When you prioritize relationship-building, you unlock opportunities to advance from an administrative role to a strategic role. Through strong partnerships, you gain the recognition and respect you deserve, and you position yourself as a vital part of your Executive’s success.
Establishing a successful partnership is essential for mastering the key skill to becoming a Strategic Business Partner. The value that Assistants bring to an organization should be recognized, as it has the potential to drive organizational success. By building relationships and creating a network of trust with key stakeholders, you can transition from a purely administrative role to a strategic one.
Delivering results despite the challenges posed by limited resources requires the ability to foster meaningful collaborations, a key focus of our masterclass. If you’re looking for ways to leverage your role as an Assistant and become a valued part of the organization, sign up for our Strategic Business Partner Online Course today!
It’s never been easier for Assistants to hone their skills and stay ahead of the competition. By investing time in your professional development, you’ll equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to take your career as an Assistant further than ever before. This course offers insights and practical strategies to help you develop stronger partnerships, build trust with stakeholders, and solidify your role as a Strategic Business Partner. Take action today, and watch your career as an Assistant flourish!
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