As an Assistant, managing your Executive can sometimes feel like navigating uncharted waters. At a recent Virtual Summit, Podcast Host and Founder of The Linchpin Assistant, Liz Van Vliet, introduced the concept of the three P’s: preferences, priorities, and pet peeves. This framework offers a practical approach to building a solid working relationship with your Executive and ensuring smooth communication and collaboration.
In this article, we’ll explore how understanding your executive’s preferences, priorities, and pet peeves can help you effectively manage your Executive. We’ll also share practical tips for incorporating these insights into your daily interactions.
The 1:1 Meeting Template for Executives and Assistants gives you the steps to ensure that when you have a one-to-one meeting with your Executive, you get through all the work you need to cover and maximise your time together.
Understanding your Executive’s preferences is essential for aligning your work style with theirs. Preferences encompass everything from how they like documents formatted to their preferred methods of communication, such as Slack or WhatsApp, and even how they like to end conversations. By observing their communication style, work pace, and time orientation, you can gain valuable insight into what works best for them.
To proactively understand your executive’s preferences, initiate a conversation to discuss and document them. This is especially helpful when starting a new working relationship, but it can also be beneficial at any stage to clarify or realign expectations. Having an open and honest discussion ensures you’re on the same page, making your work more efficient and aligned with their needs.
Understanding your executive’s preferences is about more than just observation—it’s about building trust and demonstrating that you’re attentive to their needs.
Understanding your executive’s pet peeves can help you avoid unnecessary mistakes and maintain a strong professional relationship. Pet peeves might include recurring issues like document errors, scheduling conflicts, or not following through on preferences. Identifying and addressing these can save time and prevent frustration.
Be attentive to their feedback and cues in communication. If your manager expresses dissatisfaction or highlights areas for improvement, take note and make adjustments. Proactively addressing these areas demonstrates your commitment to professionalism and continuous improvement. Additionally, ask for regular feedback to understand how you can better meet their expectations.
Avoiding mistakes by understanding your executive’s pet peeves not only minimizes friction but also shows your attention to detail and willingness to adapt.
Managing up involves synthesizing your executive’s preferences, priorities, and pet peeves to create a complete picture of their work style and communication preferences. By being observant, curious, and proactive, you can build a strong working relationship that fosters trust and alignment.
It’s also important to go beyond the three P’s and understand your Executive’s broader goals, motivations, and challenges. This means gaining insight into their career aspirations, the current work climate, and their decision-making process. Anticipating their needs and offering strategic support positions you as an invaluable resource in their success.
Managing up is essentially about putting together the puzzle of your executive’s preferences, priorities, and pet peeves and applying that understanding to strengthen your working relationship.
By applying the three P’s—preferences, priorities, and pet peeves—you can strengthen your working relationship with your manager and enhance your overall effectiveness. These strategies empower you to anticipate their needs, align your efforts with their goals, and maintain clear, open communication.
At The EA Campus, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re looking for practical resources or expert guidance, our tools are tailored to help Assistants thrive in their roles. Managing your Executive doesn’t have to be overwhelming—with the right approach, it’s an opportunity to showcase your expertise and make a lasting impact.
Understanding your Executive’s preferences, priorities, and pet peeves is the foundation of building trust, fostering alignment, and excelling in your role.
If you’re looking for more guidance on how to reach optimal productivity as an Executive Assistant or Administrative Specialist, enroll in our Strategic Business Partner Online Course. Not only will it equip you with the appropriate strategies and resources needed to become an indispensable member of the team, but it will also ensure business objectives are met with maximum efficiency. This course is a valuable tool for building a strong partnership between an executive assistant and their executive.
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