Assistants who download our 20 Questions to Ask a New Executive Worksheet are able to take control of the partnership with their Executive from the very first meeting.
In a strategic partnership, you must take on tasks that challenge you and grow your knowledge and skills. This can be scary for many Assistants because we’re often perfectionists and people-pleasers, making failure a scary thought! Assistants who trust that their mistakes will be met with constructive feedback and support are more confident in their abilities and develop creative solutions to problems. It’s a partnership; no one should be thrown under the bus.
You need room to grow in your role, take on new challenges, and feel motivated. You should expect your Executive to want that for you too. You should expect your Executive to be passionate about the work, interested in growing the business, and ready to bring their team along on that journey.
If your Executive doesn’t know where a project or the organization is headed, how can you? This isn’t just about action steps or deliverables but a clear vision for the department or company’s future that they communicate to you.
Focusing on the big picture also means not micromanaging their Assistant! Strategic Assistants need their Executive to delegate, not interfere in the day-to-day and minute-to-minute workflow or processes you’ve been assigned to complete.
Amanda Vinci, one of the coaches in our Strategic Business Partnership Online Course, talks about helping your Executive make decisions. She says, “They pay us to think so that they can make the decisions.” The more quickly and effectively your Executive can make decisions, the better you can implement them, making you feel more efficient and effective.
Everyone wants a job that fits their work-life balance. Great Executives understand that there needs to be a balance between meeting business objectives and respecting the work-life balance of their Assistant. Executives should take the time to create that personal connection, understand what their Assistant has going on at home, and discuss any issues they might have. Happy Assistants make excellent Assistants!
Strategic Assistants must hold themselves accountable for their work, but it’s even more important for Executives to hold themselves accountable for the partnership to work. This means following the same guidelines they set for their team and taking responsibility for both successes and failures. If you feel like your Executive has your back, no matter what, you’ll be much more comfortable and confident in your role and will produce better work.
A true strategic partnership between Assistants and Executives goes beyond basic support. It’s about aligning with a shared vision, fostering open communication, building trust, and driving organizational success. When both parties work together with mutual respect and clear expectations, they create a powerful, results-oriented partnership that not only benefits the Executive but also enhances the Assistant’s professional growth and impact.
If you’re ready to elevate your role and develop the skills needed to become an indispensable strategic partner, consider enrolling in our Strategic Business Partner Online Course. This course is designed specifically for Assistants who want to step into a more strategic, high-impact role and gain insights that will empower them to make a meaningful difference in their organizations.
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